Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig T. Mitchell Recommends Dismissal of Case Against Mayor Louie Lujan of La Puente
Mayor Louie Lujan, the youngest Mayor in the State of California when elected in 2001, won a major court victory in court when Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig T. Mitchell recommended a complete dismissal of the case brought against Mayor Louie Lujan by the district attorney’s office. Judge Mtichell recommended that that the case against Mayor Louie Lujan be 1) Immediately dismissed; and 2) All records pertaining to the case be destroyed.
In 2010, La Puente Mayor Louie Lujan announced that he would consider a run for State Assembly. Shortly after, the district attorney’s office received a complaint that he was improperly reporting $2500 in campaign contributions. Mayor Louie Lujan and supporters called the allegations false and politically motivated. Defense attorneys for Mayor Louie Lujan stated that the case moved forward only because of the Mayor’s status as a rising political star, and that the case would go nowhere if Louie Lujan was not the Mayor of La Puente.
On February 1, 2013, Los Angeles Superior Court judge Craig T. Mitchell appeared to agree with this argument and granted every single demand made by Louie Lujan and his defense attorneys. He stated that the court has reviewed the case, the arguments, and the demands made by both sides and has found “no merit” for the case to move forward.
Mayor Louie Lujan later stated that he was happy and ready to focus on his job as Mayor of La Puente. “Elected at a young age, I faced many challenges both in my election as Mayor, and during my first year in office….but nothing compared to this political nonsense.” He said.
Mayor Louie Lujan of La Puente is also noted for setting a record for the most votes ever obtained by a candidate in the 2005 La Puente Mayoral election; a record that still hold today.
Today, Mr. Lujan directs CIMA Law Group’s government relations department. He works with staff members from various local governments on matters such as planning, zoning and land use. Mr. Lujan graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a B.A. in Political Science and a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA). He also holds a Master’s in Secondary Education (M.Ed.) from Loyola Marymount University (LMU).
