R
^^b?
^K y+
i§ 0^:<v,^J reo
CITY OF PASADENA
APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE
CHARTER STUDY TASK FORCE
The information contained on this form will be used by the City Council to appoint members to the Charter Study Task Force. Please answer all questions. You are invited to attach additional pages, a copy of your resume, or submit supplemental information which you feel may assist the City Council in its evaluation of your application. Please note that, once submitted, this form, and all attachments, will become subject to public access under the Public Records ^ct, w{tfi%ie exception of personally identifiable information. -^ ^ ^-O Applicant Name: Diana Carbajal Mejia
Home Address:
'- €:.
0 :';:
"i i ...-.
REDACTEDREDACTED
gj ?n
I
alif91104
c'~T^~
C)
-r-t-
-.»"
•^'^
Mailing Address: Same as above
w
z
••.•..,
CQ
cn
t
0 Us
Email Address:
Business Phone:
Home Phone: None
REDACTED
REDACTEDDate Available to Start: December 1,2023
Cell Phone:REDACTED
Indicate if you wish to be considered for a District, At-Large, and/or Mayoral Nomination (mark one or more):
^ I District Representative representing City Council District /At-large Representative City Council District
Mayoral Representative
Community Service - List boards, commissions, committees, and organizations on which you are currently sen/ing or have served, offices held and in what city.
All Saints Church, (Pasadena) Vestry Board Member April 2012 - April 2016; Rector Search Committee, All Saints Church, 2015-2016; Co-Chair, Calitornia District Attorneys Association, Extraditon Committee, 2017 - 2022; Project LbAU, Legal hductation facilitator fLos Anaeles County^ 2016 - 2019: Student Attendance Review Board. El Monte School District. 2003-2004.
Employment - Title and duties, current and past (acceptable to attach resume as an alternative).
See attached resume.
Education - Include professional or vocational licenses or certificates.
California State University Fullerton, B.A., Communications, Minor in Political Science, Dec_^L2S£L Loyola Law School, Juris Doctorate, May 1995; Admitted to California State Bar, November 1995.
1. Have you ever worked for the City of Pasadena? (If yes, please list dates/department)
I hays nfivsr worked for the City of Pasadena.
YES NO
2. Are you related to any employee, appointed or elected official of the City of Pasadena? (If yes, please indicate name and relationship)
I am nnt related tn any ftmployefi, appointed or elected official.
YES NO
3. Rules of law and ethics prohibit members from participating in and voting on matters in which they may have a direct or indirect financial interest. Are you aware of any circumstances which may develop from your occupation or economic
holdings, that might relate to your service as a member of a Charter Study Task Force? (If yes, please indicate any potential conflicts)
I am nnt awars nf any pntential conflicts-
YES NO
4. Have there been, or are there now, any personal or business YES circumstances which might reflect adversely on your service as a member of a Charter Study Task Force?
5. Are you aware of the time commitment necessary to fulfill the YES obligations of a member on a Charter Study Task Force,
including meetings on nights and weekends?
a NO
NO
6. What specifically in your background, training, education, or interests qualifies you to serve on the Charter Study Task Force? Please highlight any relevant experience with the City of Pasadena or other municipality that involves Charter Study, elected experience, or knowledge of City Charter laws and provisions:
My legal training and undergraduate course of study provide me with the education and background to serve as a task force committee member. Additionally, prior to becoming a prosecutor I worked for a law firm which represented government entities, ouch ao the cities of Montobollo, Vornon, Commerce and voriouo ochool ochool diQtricts. As an aGoociato at this law firm I attended city council meetings,planning commission and school board meetings and advised city and public entity clients on a wide range at legal issues. Additionally, in my work as a prosecutor, I dratted and proposed legislation Involving bail reform and immigration.
This experience is helpful in proposing potential legislation for voters to approve regarding charter reform.
7. What objectives and goals should the Charter Study Task Force consider? Thp P.harfpr Sti irlv Ta?;l< Fnrnp cshni ilrf pnnsidpr fprm limit?; ac; wpll fl<? rpfnrminn thp p.itv nhflrtp'r tn ~3 —- —--- - ——^—- - - - —- — —----"—-- —------ -------- —"——- - —•- ~— —• —...-.. -^ -. . - —---y Jmplement processes for filling vacancies on unexpired terms, including apDointments, and calling for special elections. Campaign finances should also be considered.
8. In your opinion, what is the importance of the scope and charge of the Charter Study Task Force, as approved and assigned by the City Council?
The Task Force's scope and charge is important to proper and representative governance of the city.
The Pasadena community must have have fair and duly elected representatives, therefore the Task Force's responsibility in examining this issue and proposing solutions is critical to our democratic process.
9. How would you help to achieve the Charter Study Task Force's objectives and goals, while adhering to the City Council's approved Scope and Charge? My fiyperifinnfi in working cnltaborativfily in researching issues and proposing solutions will assist the Task Force in accomplishing its charge. I have worked on important and potentially contentious issues such as bail reform, immigration, and church leadership, and have been successful in presenting research, oftenng solutions and draTting legislation and proposals.
Signature: <^UJ^ (-^- ^^Date: 11/1/2023
/ hereby certify that the following information is correct to the best of my knowledge. 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
One of the goals of the City Council is to balance advisory body appointments in terms of geographic residence, location, ethnicity, gender, and age. Th^Jollowinq information is desirable, but not required for appointment.
Year of Birth:REDACTEDREDACTEDREDACTED
If City resident, number of years: ^_
)iana M. Carbajal
REDACTED /
REDACTED
Skills
Licensed attorney with 28 years of practical experience primarily in the area of criminal law. Skills include motion writing, legal research, oral advocacy, personnel supervision and project management.
Experience
May 2018-March 2022
Los Angeles County Dislricl Attorney, Los Angeles - Deputy in Charge, Extradition Services Section
Managed the operation of the office's extradition unit which was responsible for returning fugitives from outside California and from foreign countries. Also worked with federal statutory schemes and interstate compacts to secure the return of prisoners serving sentences in federal and out-of-state prisons.
Supervised staff attorneys, paralegals and legal support personnel tasked with extraditing fugitives, and staffing a court having exclusive jurisdiction over bail bond forfeiture motions.
Chaired office committee tasked with analyzing and drafting legislation in support of bail reform and pre-trial release.
Represented the office on a county-wide committee which was responsible for proposing and implementing a pilot program for releasing arrestees without bail.
Handled a personal caseload of dozens of high profile criminal extradition matters involving both international and domestic fugitives.
July 2012-April 2018
Los Angeles County District Attorney, Los Angeles - Coordinator, Extradition Services Section
Assisted the Head Deputy of the Training Division to grow and manage the Extradition Services Section. During this period the Extradition Services Section added staffing, and increased its presence within the office and with law enforcement partners.
Conducted offtce-wide attorney and staff training and law enforcement agency training.
Developed a database to successfully manage an increasing caseload of both international and domestic extradition cases.
Coordinated the launch of a county-wide program which centralized bail bond forfeiture matters to be heard in a downtown court with exclusive jurisdiction. Implemented LADA office-wide policies and procedure to staff and manage bail bond forfeiture matters.
Reviewed and edited colleagues' work on extradition filings in international fugitive cases. 2 Carried a personal caseload of dozens of high profile criminal extradition matters involving both international and domestic fugitives.
Appeared in court regularly to handle various criminal extradition and bail bond forfeiture matters.
March 2005 - June 2012
Los Angeles County District Attorney, Los Angeles - Depiity District Attorney, Extradition Services Section
Solo attorney handling dozens of international extradition matters.
Briefed LADA management and colleagues on international extradition procedures and offered extradition strategies when new laws permitted extradition of fugitives.
Worked with law enforcement agents and office colleagues in drafting and processing extradition documents including declarations, legal statements, documentary evidence and correspondence.
Collaborated with US Attorneys at the Office of International Affairs for submission of international extradition requests to foreign countries.
Advised colleagues on bail bond forfeiture cases including drafting motions for inclusion in office wide brief bank.
Regularly appeared in court to handle various criminal extradition and bail bond forfeiture matters.
July 2003- August 2004
Los Angeles County District Attorney, Los Angeles - Deputy District Attorney, Abolish Chronic Truancy (ACT) Unit
Collaborated with county-wide school district administrators to implement and operate this grant-funded program aimed at reducing truancy and preventing crime. • Conducted school-wide parent meetings advising on truancy consequences and counseled individual students and families to facilitate regular school attendance.
Represented the District Attorney at School Attendance Review Board (SARB) meetings.
Prosecuted individuals whose children were chronically truant.
February 2003 - July 2003
Los Angeles County District Attoniey, Los Angeles - Depiity District Attorney, Pomona Branch Office
Prosecuted defendants charged with various felony crimes, including assault, robbery, and domestic violence.
June 2002 - February 2003
Los Angeles County Dis trie I Attorney, Los Angeles - Deputy District Attorney, Juvenile Division, Eastlake
Adjudicated minors whose crimes included assaults, robberies, and sexual offenses. 3 July 2000 - June 2002
Los .'Yngeles County District Attorney, Los Angeles - Depiity District Attorney, Central Trials
Prosecuted defendants charged with various felony crimes, including murder, assault, robbery, and domestic violence.
Investigated and responded to petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus brought by convicted felons whose cases were implicated by police corruption uncovered during an investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart Division.
March 1999 - June 2000
Los Angeles County District Attorney, Los Aiigclcs - Deputy District Attorney, Misdemeanor and Prelimmaiy Hearing Unit
Prosecuted defendants charged with various misdemeanor offenses. • Conducted preliminary hearings.
May 1996- February 1999
Law Offices of Barbosa, Garcia and Barnes, Los Angeles - Associate Represented public and government entity clients in civil litigation matters including, employment and labor disputes, tort and civil rights violations. • Advised Los Angeles Unified School Board members and staff and faculty on the implementation of special education reforms mandated under the Chanda Smith Consent Decree.
Education
August 1992- May 1995
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California - Juris Doctor August 1981-December 1985
California State University Fullerlon, Fullerton, California - Bachelor of Arts, Communications', Minor, Political Science
Awards and Recognitions
Calif. District Attorney Association, Co-Chair, Extradition & Foreign Prosecution Committee (2018-2022) US Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted Fugitives - Capture of George Barraza LAPD/Foreign Prosecution Liaison Unit - Capture of Guatemalan and Mexican Fugitives Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Award for Establishment of Bail Bond Forfeiture Court Project LEAD - Volunteer Facilitator
Admitted to the California State Bar, License number 181493