Tracey Hodson Blount ’82

Like most people, Tracey's career path was never a straight line. She really thought she knew what she wanted until her decision to attend law school at Syracuse University in upstate New York gave her doubts. "I learned the hard way that one should visit a school before deciding to attend," Tracey shared. "I've always responded to weather; upstate New York in the winter was too much for me. I left after one semester feeling very discouraged – mostly because I was not finishing what I had started."

Back home, Tracey considered studying psychology, yet soon found her way back to law, taking a job with a bankruptcy attorney. When her mother suggested she look at the University of LaVerne Law School, the opportunity to study while working as a legal assistant put her back on her original path. She learned a lot about law and about herself. "I worked for a couple large firms in downtown Los Angeles, first doing real estate and then loan and finance. It was all so transactional – not at all what I imagined or wanted. Meanwhile, in school, I started writing for law review, participated in moot court, and ended up as a paralegal for an insurance company's in house counsel doing traditional litigation. All this experience was so valuable as it allowed me to see what I liked and didn't like."

Tracey had finished law school and was married with her first child when a friend recommended a job opening at Los Angeles County Counsel. "I had never heard of County Counsel," Tracey admitted, "and I know many people to this day have no idea all the office does. It was eye-opening. Technically, the County Counsel represents the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and departments of the County as agents of the Board. I started working in the sheriff's advice unit and then transferred to the dependency division. I was still a paralegal at this time and began working with attorneys who would become my mentors."

Once again, Tracey's path took a detour. She passed the bar, but with life and a government hiring freeze, she found herself working in criminal appeals in the San Bernardino district attorney's office. "I was trying to learn criminal law and realized I just wanted to be back at County Counsel, back in the dependency division. It is a very hard assignment – cases of child abuse and neglect. You are in court every day, and some cases, such as dealing with serious abuse or a child's death, really weigh on you. Every person serving in that courtroom feels the weight and yet wants to be there." It was meaningful work, and Tracey was there for it.

In addition to her daily work as an attorney, Tracey serves on several committees. She is part of the County's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and leads that committee's Attraction and Recruitment Subcommittee. She is on the Inter-Agency Council for Child Abuse and Neglect, which deals with teen suicide and exploitation, and she works with several agencies on other issues, such as education and access for foster children who need psychotropic medication. Tracey is committed, "I purposefully involve myself; I want to be a part of these projects."

Tracey first applied for judge just when the pandemic brought everything to a standstill. Her application was submitted, but nothing was happening. Then, a friend who had successfully run for judge texted her one day at the end of last year. Tracey remembers the moment clearly. "She wrote, Tracey, get down to the recorder's office now and reserve your spot. Today is the deadline!" 

Running for judge has been an undertaking. The how – all the procedures, election laws, endorsements, and visibility that are part of running for a judge's seat – Tracey has had to learn along the way. The why - her reason for running has always been very clear. "I wanted to be a judge because I knew the responsibility a judge in dependency court holds. There is no jury because of the confidentiality in cases involving children. The judge listens to everyone, has to keep track of all the facts, and then make decisions. When you're in court every day watching a judge do this, bearing the weight of it, you really understand what service is."

For Tracey, it is more than a career choice. "I had some of the best judges who were so patient, even-tempered, and acknowledged everyone that came into their courtroom no matter the issue. And, we see some ugly, ugly things, but they were always very respectful to everyone. And that's who I appeared before for all those years and who I would like to emulate. This is what I feel my assignment is; everything I've done has brought me to this point. I am ready."