“Chief Prosecutor” Ballot Claim Prompts Lawsuit

DA candidate Alan Jay Jackson filed a suit, alleging Carmen Trutanich used "false, confusing and misleading descriptions for the June ballot"

The battle to be Los Angeles County's next top prosecutor heated up recently as one of the candidates filed a lawsuit challenging a rival who claimed on election records that he's "chief prosecutor."

The Los Angeles Times reported that DA candidate Alan Jay Jackson filed a suit on Friday alleging that Carmen Trutanich, the current LA City Attorney, used "false, confusing and misleading descriptions for the June ballot."

Jackson's suit seeks to prevent Trutanich from calling himself "chief prosecutor" or "chief criminal prosecutor" when the ballot is finalized next month for printing.

Jackson, a deputy district attorney, argues that Trutanich doesn't personally prosecute violations of Los Angeles city ordinances but is, at best, the "titular" supervisor of the prosecutors.

Trutanich's campaign has said the descriptions are accurate.

Trutanich, 60, officially announced Feb. 9 that he was running for DA, ending months of speculation following the retirement of three-term incumbent Steve Cooley.

Trutanich, who was elected city attorney in 2009, is considered the heavy favorite against five other prosecutors from the district attorney's office who also are looking to replace Cooley: Bobby Grace, Jacquelyn Lacey, Danette Meyers, Mario Trujillo and Jackson.

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