California Racial Justice Act Motion: Filed Case Materials

forensic toxicology working group members April 30, 2025 Racial Justice Act

Article overview: This post provides the filed California Racial Justice Act motion and explains the legal arguments, factual record and relief requested in the case materials.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Judge Faces Racial Bias Allegations

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Must Answer Racism Claims

Los Angeles, CA (April 30, 2025) – Judge Laura F. Priver of the Los Angeles Superior Court is facing racial bias allegations for not allowing a Black expert witness to testify in a case involving a Latino man.

The judge ruled that the Black expert witness cannot be deemed to be an expert in a pending case, because he is not on the court’s panel of experts.

“The sole reason I’m not on the panel of experts is the repeated discrimination complaints I’ve filed against the Los Angeles Superior court, which they deserve,” said Okorocha. “The court’s excuse for not putting me on the panel of experts is that I’m also an attorney, but that doesn’t make any sense once you understand that forensics expert work requires legal education.”

The case in question involves a legal motion the LA county public defender’s office had filed on behalf of a Latino defendant charged with DUI offenses. The motion sought relief through the California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) which can be found under California Penal Code Section 745.

Judge Priver is refusing to allow the defense’s expert witness Okorie Okorocha, an African American man, to testify on the Latino defendant’s behalf, even though evidence shows that Okorocha is far more qualified than the prosecution’s expert witness and every other witness on the panel of experts.

Okorocha is the founder of Toxicolawgy.com. He practices the law on a very part-time basis and has served as an expert witness in nearly 900 jury trials in 56 California county courts, 27 U.S. States, and internationally in Germany and Japan. He has also testified in more than 3,500 administrative hearings. Okorocha has been the expert of choice in many high-profile cases, including the George Floyd civil case.

“The stunning thing in this case is that the judge has allowed me to testify as an expert witness in another case, but won’t let me do so in this case,” said Okorocha. “Since both the defendant and I are people of color in this case, it looks like she’s showing racial bias against us both by allowing a far less qualified expert witness on the prosecution side, but she won’t let the Latino defendant get a better qualified witness on his behalf. That hurts his case. We’re asking the Los Angeles Superior Courts to investigate the actions of Judge Priver and to see if she’s violating the Racial Justice Act.

There can be no room for racism in the LA County Superior Court system.”

Okorocha’s impressive and extensive credentials also include a bachelor’s degree in biology and two Master of Science degrees in Forensic Toxicology along with his Juris Doctorate. He has written several publications and has also held contracted positions as an analyst and researcher in blood alcohol and blood drug results.

While Judge Priver ruled that Okorocha did not qualify as an expert witness because he was not on the list of appointed experts for Los Angeles County, she did not provide a legal basis or case law to support that finding. She also denied Okorocha and the public defender’s office a hearing to explain why he is not currently on the Los Angeles Appointed “Expert’s list.”

The court’s expert list for toxicologists are older Caucasian males with fewer qualifications than Okorocha.

“It’s common for experts to testify and be considered experts even if they’re not on the L.A. County Panel, said Okorocha. “I’ve also made many racism complaints against the Los Angeles Superior Court, which I am sure played a role,” He added.

Judge Priver also kept referring to Okorocha as a “specialist” despite plenty of information given to the judge that he has previously been qualified as an expert by many courts.

Deputy Public Defenders Jeff Martin and Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes filed an objection to the ruling on April 16, 2025, saying that it is based in animosity toward Okorocha and is prejudicial and biased. The two attorneys say they plan to fight until the end on behalf of Okorocha, their Latino defendant and others who may be facing discrimination in the Los Angeles court system.

Okorie Okorocha is available for interviews regarding this case. To schedule an interview, contact TK Marshall at 719-648-1482 or email tk@facethefame.com.