Cooley's personal pick pitted against city attorney, others

With the impending retirement of Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County is poised to have a new district attorney for the first time in 12 years.

The June 5 primary election comes at a crucial moment, when budget crises and realignment are forcing dramatic changes in the criminal justice system.

The race to lead the largest local prosecutorial agency in the nation is shaping up to be intensely