On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Voice of OC reported that the home of Orange County’s Assistant Presiding Judge, Cheri Pham, was raided by the FBI last month amid an ongoing investigation into approximately $10 million in missing federal COVID-19 funds. These funds were partially overseen by her husband, County Supervisor Andrew Do, and were funneled to a nonprofit organization that her daughter helped manage.
The investigation has raised significant concerns regarding Pham’s position within the Orange County Superior Court, particularly as she has stated she will not be pursuing the role of presiding judge in the upcoming year. Pham holds a crucial role in the judiciary, including the responsibility to investigate complaints related to judicial ethics. “I oversee and manage the responses to complaints about our judicial officers that come in from the public,” Pham noted in a previous interview with the Portia Project podcast. She emphasized that the court is required to address all complaints received.
The scrutiny surrounding Pham has intensified following the FBI’s raid on the couple’s residence in Tustin, which is located outside of Do’s electoral district. Since his election in 2015, Do has faced multiple investigations regarding the legitimacy of his residency within his district, an issue further complicated by the recent federal inquiry. The implications for Pham, should she be found to have knowledge of any wrongdoing by her husband, remain uncertain. Kostas Kalaitzidis, a spokesperson for the court, refrained from commenting on potential penalties for Pham, describing her role in investigating other judges as “procedural.” He also clarified that she has not been asked to resign by her judicial peers.
Pham’s judicial career spans over three decades, having worked in various capacities as a lawyer before her appointment as a superior court judge in 2010. She has served in several judicial roles, including Criminal Supervising Judge and as a member of multiple judicial panels. Despite the current controversy, Pham has largely maintained a low profile and did not respond to requests for comments from Voice of OC.
Born in Vietnam, Pham immigrated to the United States in 1975 with her family. She pursued a legal education at UC Berkeley, graduating in 1990. Her career began in the Orange County Public Defender’s office, where she worked until the county’s financial crisis in 1994 forced her to transition to the newly established alternate defender’s office. In 1997, she joined the District Attorney’s office, opting to remain in public service rather than pursue private practice, as she was committed to continuing her work in trial law.
In 2010, following a vacant judgeship, Pham ran unopposed for a judicial seat and won. She has since advanced through the ranks of the court, contributing to various panels and serving as a lecturer at Chapman University. In 2023, she was appointed assistant presiding judge and received the Trailblazer Award from the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, recognizing her as the first Vietnamese judge elected in the state.
Pham’s personal life intertwines with her professional role; she administered the oath of office for her husband, Andrew Do, when he joined the Board of Supervisors in 2015, and was present during his acceptance speech in 2018 when he became chair of the board. In that speech, Do acknowledged her support and highlighted her accomplishments as a testament to the opportunities available in America.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications for both Pham and Do remain unclear, but the situation continues to draw public attention and raises questions about ethical standards within the judiciary. The outcome of this inquiry could impact Pham’s career and the integrity of the Orange County Superior Court.
Source: Voice of OC
