https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-confirms-three-appointments-courts-appeal Commission Confirms Three Appointments to Courts of Appeal Balassone, Merrill Mon, 11/17/2025 - 10:55 News Release Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced today that the commission confirmed three appointments to California's Courts of Appeal in Los Angeles, Riverside, and Fresno: Matthew Scherb, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Eight (Los Angeles) Judge Corey Lee, as associate justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Two (Riverside) Judge Arlan L. Harrell, as associate justice of the Fifth Appellate District (Fresno) The appointees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes: California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Chair); California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for the Second Appellate District); Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez (for the Fourth Appellate District); and Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill (for the Fifth Appellate District). Appointee Biographies Matthew Scherb fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Elizabeth A. Grimes. He has been a chambers attorney at the Supreme Court of California since 2021. He served as a deputy city attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2017 to 2021. Scherb was an appellate court attorney from 2011 to 2017. He was an associate at Winston & Strawn LLP from 2005 to 2011. Scherb served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. Scherb received a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University. Judge Corey Lee fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Marsha G. Slough. She has served as a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge since 2015. She served as a deputy chief assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2015. Lee was a deputy district attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2008. She served as a deputy district attorney in the Riverside County District Attorney's Office from 2004 to 2007. Lee served as a law clerk in the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review from 2003 to 2004. Lee received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. Judge Arlan L. Harrell fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Charles S. Poochigian. He has served as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2006. He served as a court commissioner for the Fresno County Superior Court from 2003-2006. Harrell served as a deputy district attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1994-2003. He was an associate at Lang, Richert & Patch from 1992 to 1994. Harrell received a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Davis King Hall School of Law.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-consider-appointments-courts-appeal-6 Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of AppealMartin.Novitski Thu, 10/16/2025 - 14:42 News Release The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public in-person hearings in San Francisco on Nov. 17 starting at 9 a.m. to consider three appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom.  The commission will consider the following appointments: 9 a.m.: Matthew Scherb, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Eight (Los Angeles)  10 a.m.: Judge Corey Lee, as associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two (Riverside)  11 a.m.: Judge Arlan L. Harrell, as associate justice of the Fifth Appellate District (Fresno) The hearing webcast will be streamed live on the California Courts Newsroom.   The state Constitution specifies that a gubernatorial appointment to the Court of Appeal is effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.   The commission members who will consider the appointment are California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Chair); California Attorney General Rob Bonta; Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (Second Appellate District)*; Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez (Fourth Appellate District); and Administrative Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill (Fifth Appellate District). *Please note, Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert will appear virtually for the 9 a.m. hearing for Mr. Matthew Scherb. Appointee Biographies  Matthew Scherb would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Elizabeth A. Grimes. He has been a chambers attorney at the Supreme Court of California since 2021. He served as a deputy city attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2017 to 2021. Scherb was an appellate court attorney from 2011 to 2017. He was an associate at Winston & Strawn LLP from 2005 to 2011. Scherb served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. Scherb received a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University. Judge Corey Lee would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Marsha G. Slough. She has served as a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge since 2015. She served as a deputy chief assistant United States attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2015. Lee was a deputy district attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2008. She served as a deputy district attorney in the Riverside County District Attorney's Office from 2004 to 2007. Lee served as a law clerk in the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review from 2003 to 2004. Lee received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School.  Judge Arlan L. Harrell would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Charles S. Poochigian. He has served as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2006. He served as a court commissioner for the Fresno County Superior Court from 2003-2006. Harrell served as a deputy district attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1994-2003. He was an associate at Lang, Richert & Patch from 1992 to 1994. Harrell received a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Davis King Hall School of Law.  Testimony and Comment Requests to testify or written comments on the appointment must be received by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 (five court days prior to hearing). Anyone wishing to testify before the commission must state that request in writing and include a summary of the facts on which any testimony or opinion will be based.   Submissions via email to coja@jud.ca.gov are strongly encouraged. Hard copies are not required.   If you would like to mail your request, you may also reach the commission at:   Commission on Judicial Appointments   c/o Chief Justice of California   Supreme Court of California   350 McAllister Street   San Francisco, California 94102   Attention: Secretary to the Commission   Guidelines for the Commission on Judicial Appointments are published in the appendix to the California Rules of Court and are posted on the California Courts website. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-supreme-courts-outreach-session-draws-fresno-students-all-ages California Supreme Court’s Outreach Session Draws Fresno Students of All AgesSoltysik, Penne Tue, 12/03/2024 - 14:33 Feature On Wednesday, October 9, students from Fresno County public schools and area law schools arrived at the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District in downtown Fresno, eager to witness the California Supreme Court at work. Several students remained outside memorizing questions they prepared for this day.  This was the second outreach session held by the California Supreme Court under Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (the last session was held in San Diego in 2023). The court last heard oral argument in Fresno in 2010.   In the video below, Chief Justice Guerrero welcomes students to the session before inviting a few to ask each of the court's seven justices questions about their work as a judge, how they got started in law, and their advice for aspiring young attorneys. Links to more resources appear throughout the video:  The Flickr Photo Gallery below provides more details:  For the Fresno outreach session, students as young as fifth grade participated, including students from Maple Creek Elementary School where students met the Chief Justice one year ago with Administrative Presiding Justice Brad Hill from the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District in Fresno (view video). The reason for the visit was to present the prestigious 2023 Civic Learning Award of Excellence, an honor co-sponsored by the Chief Justice with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.   The elementary school guests were joined by approximately 30 students from Buchanan High School, Bullard High School, Clovis High School, Clovis North High School, Clovis East High School, Clovis West High School, Coalinga High School, Justin Garza High School, Reedley High School, Roosevelt High School, and San Joaquin College of Law.  Full details are available in the media players above. Photo Credits: Judicial Council of California.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-supreme-court-hold-oral-argument-outreach-session-fresno California Supreme Court to Hold Oral Argument Outreach Session in FresnoCorren, Blaine Wed, 10/02/2024 - 13:44 News Release The California Supreme Court will hold a special oral argument session on Wednesday, October 9 in Fresno. This will be the court’s second outreach session under Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the first time the court has heard oral argument in Fresno since 2010. The special session will be attended by students and their teachers from local high schools, an elementary school, and a law school. The court’s outreach programs allow students to participate in and learn from the judicial process. At the start of the session, students will have the opportunity to ask the justices questions about the court and their role in the judicial system. After the Q&A session, students will watch oral argument for the cases on calendar that day. The students attending the session will be from Buchanan High School, Bullard High School, Clovis High School, Clovis North High School, Clovis East High School, Clovis West High School, Coalinga High School, Justin Garza High School, Reedley High School, Roosevelt High School, Maple Creek Elementary, and San Joaquin College of Law. The court will host the session from the courtroom of the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno, at 2424 Cesar Chavez Boulevard (formerly known as Ventura Street). Media interested in attending the session are asked to contact blaine.corren@jud.ca.govThe session will also be broadcast live on the Supreme Court website and the California Courts Newsroom.