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# From clerk to U.S. Attorney, former judge makes the fastbreak
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/from-clerk-to-u-s-attorney-former-judge-makes-the-fastbreak/
- Published: 2002-05-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:18:19.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By CAROLYN SACKARIASON AND DAVE DANFORTH Daily Press Staff Writers*

She’s presided over everything from Persian divorce cases to neighbor disputes to mold insurance claims.

After nearly two years of sitting on the bench in the Santa Monica Courthouse, Debra W. Yang recently hung up her robe for the high-powered position of U.S. Attorney.

Now she’ll be taking on terrorists and corruption throughout Los Angeles.

May 10 was Yang’s last day as a Superior Court judge in Santa Monica. She was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on May 17 and assumed her new position last Monday.

Four days before leaving her Santa Monica post, Yang was busy wrapping up her work amidst packing boxes in her chambers.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 28, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052802.pdf?ref=smdp.com)