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Santa Monica Judge Reported Missing Found in Carson

Linda Lefkowitz got lost on her way to work from her Pacific Palisades home Monday morning.

A 71-year-old Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge who had been reported missing was reunited with her family late Monday night after she got lost on her way to work at the Santa Monica Courthouse and ended up at a McDonalds in Carson.

Linda Kay Lefkowitz was in good condition after good Samaritans at the restaurant called authorities and her family came to pick her up,  Lt. Chris Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Carson Station told City News Service.

Lefkowitz left her Palisades home about 8:20 a.m. Monday and had not been seen or heard from until she was found about 11:35 pm.

Her husband, Frank Lefkowitz, had suspected she might have gotten lost because she has breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments, which may have caused memory loss, he said.

"I think she may have lost perspective of where she was," he said.

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Eddie Greenberg June 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I am sure that the family of Judge Lefkowitz were very relieved to have her back at home. No doubt the chemotherapy may very well have affected her memory temporarily. It is good that all of this ended on a positive note because many medications will have a variety of unforseen side effects,
Tom hays June 19, 2012 at 02:03 pm
I think she needs to take a medical leave of absence.
lahope June 19, 2012 at 04:21 pm
Mistrial!
Maria DiNapoli June 20, 2012 at 07:07 pm
Rudeness? Must be from those she had found guilty of their alleged misdeeds. I hope you never have to undergo any sort of chemotherapy. Then again I'd love to hear about it, if you do and get a chance to point and laugh back at you. How will it feel then??
R June 21, 2012 at 12:48 am
Yeah, I'd have to agree with Tom. :|
Rigoberto Sanchez June 21, 2012 at 02:03 am
I hope that the Popo start looking for ME way under 24 hours when I am missing. Come on now!
Denise Cesma June 21, 2012 at 04:57 pm
Its scary to think that a judge who is possibly having memory loss is ruling over civilians life. In fact, I think its fair to say that when you go before a judge you would hope that he or she is in the right state of mind when facing charges that will define your future. Please take a leave of absence.
kos wilbur June 21, 2012 at 07:15 pm
I am glad you are home and safe Judge, blessings !
Another WorldView June 22, 2012 at 05:30 am
Gotta be the Chemo - and not just the result of being 71, right? Or maybe she's just been hitting that sweet Cali Kush to counter-act the nausea, and increase her appetite. And sure enough they found her at a Mickey D's in Carson. Sounds like she had to go out of her normal range to find a "shop" - since both the City of SM and LA (and the corrupt ass-courts that serve THEM) are prohibitionist HATERs against the sticky-icky MMJ. Several bouts of 'the munchies' later, and she's found safe and sound.
Another Argument for safe-(and convenient-)access to the Medical MJ.
Patrick June 22, 2012 at 01:59 pm
Like any occupation, there are good, fair and poor judges. Depending on your case there is an appropriate judge to fit your circumstance. Judge Ito, in the Simpson case, made many mistakes. A guilty man walked free.
LLoyd WIlls June 22, 2012 at 02:32 pm
Chemo drugs or not, she clear has some cognitive lapses going on. in this day and age, she has no cell phone to use to summon help, or directions? She couldn't pull into a gas station and ask for directions to the courthouse, a familiar freeway, or even directions to return home? Come on!!! She has no business on the bench deciding cases in her present state !!
Lastoutlaw June 22, 2012 at 04:18 pm
Add to that - what is she doing driving?
Richard Castro June 23, 2012 at 12:09 pm
I live and work in the LA area, she definitely needs to take a leave of absence, or even retire for that matter. If its a money issue, sell your Pacific Palisades home. She needs to retire and stop trying to collect that hefty gov't salary.
j2d June 24, 2012 at 07:41 am
First and foremost, it is great news Judge Lefkowitz was found safe. Secondly, retire already! With all due respect, what are you doing working at 71? You clearly have major cognitive issues, as LLoyd says above. It is time to go golfing
j2d June 24, 2012 at 07:41 am
First and foremost, it is great news Judge Lefkowitz was found safe. Secondly, retire already! With all due respect, what are you doing working at 71? You clearly have major cognitive issues, as LLoyd says above. It is time to go golfing
JohnDoe June 24, 2012 at 11:58 am
Had to give you props on this. I bet when the "good samaritans" found her she was talking jive like Barbara Billingsly in Airplane.
barry June 25, 2012 at 08:50 pm
It's not the age by itself that is a problem. It's the medical and cognitive issues that have come to light by this occurrence that indicate a well-earned retirement.
Note Article
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Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
stewart resmer June 18, 2013 at 02:35 pm
Vice President Joe Biden tried Tuesday to rally Congress to act on gun control legislation, sayingRead More that "the country has changed and [politicians] will pay a political price for not getting engaged and dealing with gun safety." "As proud as the president and I am of the progress we have made, we need Congress to act," Biden said in a speech delivered at the White House. "The American people are demanding it. We need to make sure that the voices of the ones we lost are the loudest ones we here in this fight." Specifically, Biden was referring to politicians like Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), who saw her approval rating plummet after she voted against legislation that would expand background checks. Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) and Sen. Mark Begich's (D-AK) ratings also took a nosedive. On the otherside, Democrats in red states, like Sens. Mary Landrieu (LA) and Kay Hagan (NC), got a slight boost in their approval ratings after they voted in favor of the gun control legislation. The vice president also released a set of federal guidelines Tuesday for developing high quality emergency operations for schools, higher education institutions and places of worship. "We made sure the guide reflects all the lessons we've learned over the years," he said.
Joanne June 14, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Read it! Agree! Let's go!!!
Joanne June 14, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Also, check out the Santa Monica Mirror coverage of the Chamber of Commerce Installation, where itRead More was held and who was present!!!
Joanne June 14, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Talk about "sleeping with the enemy".....just sayin'