LA County DA Nathan Hochman on justice, trust and the ‘hard middle’
BY LA Stories Staff Los Angeles
PUBLISHED 5:00 AM PT Mar. 23, 2026
In the latest episode of “LA Stories,” host Giselle Fernandez sits down with Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to reflect on his first year in office following his victory over George Gascón.
Hochman describes an early focus on restoring trust within the DA’s office while emphasizing a broader shift in mindset among prosecutors, law enforcement and the public.
He outlines his approach to criminal justice as a balance between competing philosophies, rejecting both strict punitive policies and broad decarceration efforts in favor of case-by-case evaluation.
As he explains, “Blanket policies don’t work.”
The conversation also examines Hochman’s policies around accountability, diversion programs and sentencing, as well as the challenges of maintaining consistency in a complex justice system. He pushes back on characterizations that his approach limits opportunities for rehabilitation, describing what he calls a “hard middle” that weighs individual circumstances and prioritizes proportional outcomes.
Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes prosecutorial decisions should be grounded in evidence and fairness rather than public perception or political pressure.
“With respect to anyone, politicians, any elected official, the media, that wants to go ahead and jump to a conclusion before they’ve got all the facts, shame on them,” he said. “Shame on anybody who’s going ahead and saying that, reaching a conclusion before they have studied all the facts.”
As the interview turns to broader political tensions and the demands of leadership during a contentious time, Hochman acknowledges the difficulty of staying above political divisions while working with multiple levels of government.
He also reflects on the personal values that shape his work, pointing to lessons from his parents about civic responsibility and community engagement as foundational influences.
That sense of obligation continues to guide his approach to public service, even amid ongoing challenges, as he notes, “When I stand up, what I am supported by are the facts and the law.”