Joyce Karlin

Joyce Karlin

Joyce A. Karlin (born January 5, 1951) was a federal prosecutor, Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, and then a two-term mayor of Manhattan Beach, California. She now works as a private arbitrator and mediator.

Karlin was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Her father was a wealthy international studio executive who later became president of Warner Brothers International. She spent her childhood in several countries including Argentina, Italy, and Germany.

She received her J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1974. From 1977 to 1991, Karlin was an assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. She helped develop and prosecute some of the government's most important drug cases - among them the case against defendants in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena. She also has prosecuted many child pornography cases.

Karlin was elected in spring 1992 to California's Superior Court. She received 51% of the vote, defeating four other candidates. She retired from the Court in 1997.

Under the name Joyce Fahey she served two terms as on the city council (1999–2007) of Manhattan Beach, California and was twice appointed mayor. (The mayor of Manhattan Beach rotates through the city council every 9 months.)