James K. Hahn Papers

James Kenneth Hahn was born on July 3, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. Hahn comes from a family of public servants. His father, Kenneth Hahn, served as the Los Anegeles City Councilman and as Los Angeles County Supervisor for 40 years. His uncle, Gordon Hahn, was a state assemblyman and a Los Angeles City Councilman. His cousin, Dale Hahn, serves as Superior Court judge in San Mateo County and his sister, Janice Hahn, is the Congressional Representative for California's 36th District.

Hahn grew up in the Morningside Park district of Inglewood near South Los Angeles. He attended Pepperdine University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in English and a minor in Journalism in 1972. He continued his education at Pepperdine School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1975.

After law school, Hahn worked in the Office of the City Attorney as a Prosecutor and Deputy City Attorney until 1979. At this point, he turned to private practice with a colleague, Robert Horner, until 1981. In 1981, Hahn was elected City Controller of Los Angeles and held the post until 1985. Hahn went on to serve as the Los Angeles City Attorney until 2001. He used his time in office to create the Tobacco Enforcement Project, Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program, and Kid Watch LA. He focused on gang activity, domestic violence laws, and the tobacco and gun industries.

On June 5, 2001, Hahn narrowly defeated former California Speaker of the Assembly Antonio Villaraigosa in a run-off election to succeed Mayor Richard Riordan. Hahn assumed office on July 2, 2001, as 40th Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. During his time as Mayor, he focused on homeland security, public safety, housing and economic development, education, youth and families, energy and the environment, transportation, and city services. He remained in office until 2005, when he lost to Villaraigosa.

After leaving office, Hahn accepted the position of a managing director and partner at the firm Chadwick Saylor and Company. On November 5, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Hahn to fill a vacant judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Presently, he presides over Small Claims cases in Santa Monica.