MEET JUDGE THANAYI LINDSEY
Candidate for Los Angeles Superior Court Seat 181
Judge Thanayi Lindsey is an Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings with nearly thirty years of legal experience, including currently as a judicial officer and previously as a court supervisor, associate professor, and family law practitioner.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE: Judge Lindsey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from
Purdue University and Certificate of Proficiency in Spanish; and her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law achieving the Dean’s List. She graduated from UCLA School of Business Management Development for Entrepreneurs (MDE) program as well as the mediation training certificate program.
Judge Lindsey is a subject matter expert in the areas of neutrality, civil procedure, contracts, employment, family, special education, mediation, and corporate formation.
FIVE YEARS OF JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE AS OF MAY 2026: From May 2021 to October 2023, she served as Administrative Law Judge with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, where she presided over several thousand unemployment insurance appeals filed by employers and employees. With a strong ability to make sound and fair decisions, she maintained a stellar performance rating of ninety-three percent, on average which supports her judicial temperament of respectfulness, composed, and decisive to focus solely on resolving legal issues and disputes fairly.
Since October 2023, she currently serves as Administrative Law Judge with the State of California, Office of Administrative Hearings, presiding over special evidentiary hearings; conducting prehearing conferences; drafting law and motion orders; and presiding over hundreds of mediation sessions. Judge Lindsey manages her calendar with efficiency because she is patient, courteous, open minded and impartial; treating lawyers, parties, witnesses, and pro-pers with respect while being firm, calm, and composed under pressure.
COURT LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TRAINING: Her legal career began as a Student Professional Worker with the Los Angeles Municipal Court in the budget services department, where she gained foundational experience within the court system as a college student. Later, she volunteers as a mediator and contract attorney. From September 2013 to May 2021, Judge Lindsey served the Los Angeles Superior Court as a Self-Help Attorney at the Self-Help Centers and Facilitator’s Offices across multiple courthouse locations, including Norwalk, Stanley Mosk, Central Civil West (CCW), Van Nuys, and Chatsworth; while also providing remote supervisory support to additional district courts (Antelope Valley, Compton, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona, Torrance, and Whittier). In this role, she supervised Paralegals, Court Services Assistants, JusticeCorps, and Volunteers. While at CCW, she opened the center’s first computer room where litigants completed Judicial Council forms electronically which resulted in increased productivity and efficiency as well as equal access to justice. She graduated from the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management (ICM), earning court management and court executive certificates.
COMMITMENT TO EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE: As a law student, she filed her first appellate brief with the Florida First District Court of Appeal and achieved a case citation as a law student. In Lindsey v. Florida Board of Regents of the University of Florida, 629 So. 2d 941 (Fla. App. 1993), the court held that the Residency Appeals Committee (RAC) misapplied its residency requirements which resulted in out-of-state students having equal access to in-state tuition. This case solidified Judge Lindsey’s passion for justice and ensuring equality and equity for all. “I used my legal and advocacy skills to challenge an unfair practice so I and others could receive fairness.” I am committed to equal access to justice by volunteering at various community events such as the Drew League Foundation Community Event, City of Compton’s Expungement Clinic, Black Business Association of Los Angeles Business Expo, Black Realtors of Los Angeles summer event, and Los Angeles Sentinel’s Taste of Soul.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION : Earlier in her career, she practiced as a Family Law Attorney from 2000 to 2013, representing spouses and parents in matters involving child custody, division of community property, and support and attorney’s fees. She volunteered extensively with Los Angeles Superior Court’s mediation services department and, in 2009, received the court’s “Family Law Mediator of the Year ”.
PUBLIC SERVICE AND JUSTICE: Judge Lindsey’s public service began as a SUBSTITUTE ELEMENTARY TEACHER with the Los Angeles Unified School District and an INSTRUCTOR with Los Angeles County Office of Education teaching English as a Second Language. She was a graduate of Emerge CA where she received strategic training for public office elections. She was a Riordan Leadership Institute (RLI) and Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) graduate of leadership training courses for public service. Her leadership skills and public service experiences extended to the League of Women Voters Los Angeles and the Junior League of Los Angeles. In 2026, she became a member of the Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. serving women and girls with access to education and training.
She holds life memberships status with the Association of African American California Judicial
Officers (AAACJO), Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and the NAACP. She participated in the LASC Family Law Facilitator’s Office Veterans Clinic. She collaborates with other agencies who host expungement clinics. Also, she served as an attorney provider for several union-based legal insurance carriers (Union Plus, ARAG, and MetLife).
Judge Lindsey volunteers with several local bar associations and nonprofit organizations. Currently, she serves on the Board with the California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL). She is a recipient of its President’s Award under the leadership of Past-President Josi Swonetz. Judge Lindsey is a member of Los Angeles County Bar Association President’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession. She volunteers with the Alliance of Female Attorneys and Judges for the Church of God In Christ. She volunteers with Achilles International, a nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of people with a disability through athletic programs and social connection.
Judge Lindsey has received the AmeriCorps’ Lifetime Achievement Award from the Office of the President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden for community service.
She is a member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ where she serves in the women’s department by creating an educational curriculum adapted from author Deborah Balyeat's, Spanish With A Mission, two six-week courses for English speakers to learn Spanish for the first time for mission work.
She has traveled and experienced the cultures from Bermuda, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Serbia, Spain, St. Maarten, and Switzerland. Adding to her many professional qualities that will enable her to adequately serve our diverse population, Judge Lindsey speaks Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, and traveling.
