https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/ en https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/first-appellate-district-announces-destruction-old-court-records First Appellate District Announces Destruction of Old Court Recordsnatalie.l.ston… Tue, 03/24/2026 - 12:32 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, has announced its intention to destroy old civil records, case names, and case numbers, pursuant to Rule 10.1028(d) (1) of the California Rules of Court. All civil cases (excluding those with published opinions) are preserved for at least 10 years. Records related to cases on this list will be destroyed.  Anyone who knows of a reason why any of the records listed should be retained, whether for historical or other purposes, should notify Charles D. Johnson, Clerk/Executive Officer. The reasons for retention should be in writing and received by the court by April 23, and addressed to:                     Charles D. Johnson, Clerk/Executive Officer                    Court of Appeal, First Appellate District                    350 McAllister Street                    San Francisco, CA  94102 Please note that records and case files for actions that result in a published opinion will be retained permanently by the California State Archives, 1020 “O” Street, Sacramento, CA  95814. The Reference Desk can be contacted on their website or at (916) 653-2246.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/publicservice Chief Justice, Judicial Council Honor Public Servants of California's Judicial BranchBalassone, Merrill Mon, 05/05/2025 - 16:47 News Release California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the Judicial Council of California today mark their third annual celebration of Public Service Recognition Week. Said California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero: "This week we honor the 20,000 dedicated public servants of our state's judicial branch of government. Through their work, they safeguard due process, uphold the rule of law, and help ensure that justice is not just an ideal, but a reality for the communities we serve every day." Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated annually during the first week of May to honor the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees. Videos produced by the Judicial Council highlight five of California's dedicated public servants, who speak about why they choose to serve in the judicial branch. JUSTICE CHARLES SMILEY Associate justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One: LAILA WAHEED Court executive officer for Nevada County Superior Court, who started as a Judicial Fellow:   AJ GUZMAN Chief information officer for Sutter County Superior Court, who helps make remote access to courts a reality: LATRICE BROWN California Supreme Court capital appointments coordinator, who helps ensure defendants in death penalty cases have adequate representation: SHERI GULINO Civil and probate director with Riverside County Superior Court, who launched one of the state's first CARE Act programs:   View all videos on YouTube. Special thanks to the Superior Courts of Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, and San Francisco counties for video footage highlighting their dedicated employees, and to the County of San Diego for CARE Court graduation footage. About the Judicial Council of California The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts, the largest court system in the nation. Under the leadership of the Chief Justice and in accordance with the California Constitution, the council is responsible for ensuring the consistent, independent, impartial, and accessible administration of justice. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-confirms-appointments-courts-appeal-9 Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Fri, 02/14/2025 - 11:23 News Release Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed two nominations to the California Courts of Appeal in San Francisco and Santa Ana. The nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes: Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for the First District) and Presiding Justice Manuel A. Ramirez (for the Fourth District). The nominees confirmed were: Judge Charles Smiley, as associate justice of the First Appellate District, Division One (San Francisco) Judge Nathan Scott, as associate justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three (Santa Ana) Appointee Biographies Judge Charles A. Smiley fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Sandra L. Margulies. He has served as an Alameda County Superior Court judge since 2012 and as a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law since 2014. Judge Smiley served as a commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2007 to 2012. He served as a deputy public defender at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2007 and was an associate adjunct professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco from 2004 to 2007. Judge Smiley earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.Judge Nathan R. Scott fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice William W. Bedsworth. Judge Scott has served as a Orange County Superior Court judge since 2012. Judge Scott served as a senior appellate court attorney and appellate court attorney at the Fourth District Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2012. He was an associate at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP from 2003 to 2004 and at Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 1999 to 2003. Judge Scott earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.  Judge Charles A. Smiley Judge Nathan R. Scott https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-confirms-appointments-courts-appeal-17 Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Tue, 05/14/2024 - 17:09 News Release Public documents are available here. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed three nominations to California's Courts of Appeal in Los Angeles and San Francisco: Justice Gonzalo Martinez as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven (Los Angeles) Judge Natalie P. Stone as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Seven (Los Angeles) Judge Tara Desautels as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two (San Francisco) The appointees were confirmed by a unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes: Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for the Second Appellate District hearings); and Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for the First Appellate District hearing). Appointee Biographies Justice Gonzalo Martinez fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Dennis M. Perluss. Justice Martinez served as deputy judicial appointments secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2023. He served as a deputy solicitor general in the California Attorney General’s Office from 2017 to 2019 and was a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs from 2007 to 2017 and in 2019. Justice Martinez served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2010 and at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California in 2007. He was an associate at Coblentz Patch Duffy and Bass LLP from 2005 to 2007 and at Morrison & Foerster LLP from 2003 to 2005. Justice Martinez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a Master of Arts degree in English from Stanford University. Judge Natalie P. Stone fills the vacancy created pending confirmation of Justice Gonzalo Martinez’s appointment as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal. Judge Stone has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2015. She was an appellate judicial attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal from 2010 to 2015. Judge Stone was an associate at Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP from 1999 to 2010 and served as a law clerk for Judge A. Wallace Tashima at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1998 to 1999. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Judge Tara Desautels fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Therese Stewart as presiding justice. She has served as an Alameda County Superior Court judge since 2010. Judge Desautels was a senior associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP from 2005 to 2010. She served as a deputy district attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office from 1997 to 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.  https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-consider-appointments-courts-appeal-5 Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Thu, 03/28/2024 - 09:42 News Release The live webcast will begin on May 14 at 9 a.m. here; public documents for the nominees are available here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public hearings on May 14 starting at 9 a.m. to consider three appellate court appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The commission will consider the following appointments during hearings held in the Supreme Court Courtroom, located on the fourth floor of 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco: Justice Gonzalo Martinez as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven (Los Angeles) Judge Natalie P. Stone as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Seven (Los Angeles) Judge Tara Desautels as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two (San Francisco) Seating in the courtroom will be limited—with some overflow seating also available in the Milton Marks Auditorium. The hearing will be webcast 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 Jim Humes (for the First Appellate District hearing) and Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for the Second Appellate District hearings). Appointee Biographies Justice Gonzalo Martinez would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Dennis M. Perluss. Justice Martinez served as deputy judicial appointments secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2023. He served as a deputy solicitor general in the California Attorney General’s Office from 2017 to 2019 and was a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs from 2007 to 2017 and in 2019. Justice Martinez served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2010 and at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California in 2007. He was an associate at Coblentz Patch Duffy and Bass LLP from 2005 to 2007 and at Morrison & Foerster LLP from 2003 to 2005. Justice Martinez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a Master of Arts degree in English from Stanford University. Judge Natalie P. Stone would fill the vacancy created pending confirmation of Justice Gonzalo Martinez’s appointment as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal. Judge Stone has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2015. She was an appellate judicial attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal from 2010 to 2015. Judge Stone was an associate at Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP from 1999 to 2010 and served as a law clerk for Judge A. Wallace Tashima at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1998 to 1999. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Judge Tara Desautels would fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Therese Stewart as presiding justice. She has served as an Alameda County Superior Court judge since 2010. Judge Desautels was a senior associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP from 2005 to 2010. She served as a deputy district attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office from 1997 to 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.  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 May 7, 2024 (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/commission-confirms-appointments-courts-appeal-15 Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Tue, 01/30/2024 - 09:30 News Release Public documents are available here. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed Judge Monique Langhorne Wilson as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One in San Francisco, and Aimee Feinberg as associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. The appointees were confirmed by a unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes: Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for the First Appellate District hearing); and Presiding Justice Laurie M. Earl (for the Third Appellate District hearing). Appointee Biographies Judge Monique Langhorne Wilson fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Gabriel P. Sanchez to the federal bench. She has served as a Napa County Superior Court judge since 2018. Judge Langhorne Wilson also served as a Napa County Superior Court commissioner from 2006 to 2018. Before joining the bench, she served as a deputy district attorney at the Napa County District Attorney’s Office from 2000 to 2006 and was a family support officer at the Napa County Department of Child Support Services from 1999 to 2000. Judge Langhorne Wilson earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Aimee Feinberg fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Andrea Hoch. Feinberg has been of counsel at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP since 2023. She served as a deputy solicitor general at the California Department of Justice from 2014 to 2023. She was a lecturer and director of the California Supreme Court Clinic at the University of California, Davis School of Law from 2012 to 2014 and an associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP from 2005 to 2011. She served as a law clerk for Justice Stephen G. Breyer at the U.S. Supreme Court from 2004 to 2005 and for Judge David S. Tatel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 2003 to 2004. Feinberg was an associate at Covington & Burling from 2002 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School.   https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-consider-appointments-courts-appeal-3 Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Wed, 12/20/2023 - 10:10 News Release The live webcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Jan 30 here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public hearings on Tuesday, Jan. 30 starting at 2:30 p.m. to consider two appellate court appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The commission will consider the following appointments during hearings held in the Supreme Court Courtroom, located on the fourth floor of 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco: Judge Monique Langhorne Wilson as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One (San Francisco)   Aimee Feinberg as associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal (Sacramento) Seating in the courtroom will be limited—with some overflow seating also available in the Milton Marks Auditorium—and any mask requirements will be enforced as may be required by state and local health directives in effect at the time of the hearing. The hearing will be webcast 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 Jim Humes (for the First Appellate District hearing) and Presiding Justice Laurie M. Earl (for the Third Appellate District hearing). Appointee BiographiesJudge Monique Langhorne Wilson would fill the vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Gabriel P. Sanchez to the federal bench. She has served as a Napa County Superior Court judge since 2018. Judge Langhorne Wilson also served as a Napa County Superior Court commissioner from 2006 to 2018. Before joining the bench, she served as a deputy district attorney at the Napa County District Attorney’s Office from 2000 to 2006 and was a family support officer at the Napa County Department of Child Support Services from 1999 to 2000. Judge Langhorne Wilson earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Aimee Feinberg would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Andrea Hoch. Feinberg has been of counsel at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP since 2023. She served as a deputy solicitor general at the California Department of Justice from 2014 to 2023. She was a lecturer and director of the California Supreme Court Clinic at the University of California, Davis School of Law from 2012 to 2014 and an associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP from 2005 to 2011. She served as a law clerk for Justice Stephen G. Breyer at the U.S. Supreme Court from 2004 to 2005 and for Judge David S. Tatel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 2003 to 2004. Feinberg was an associate at Covington & Burling from 2002 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. 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 Tuesday, Jan. 23 (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 Appointmentsc/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/commission-confirms-appointments-courts-appeal-13 Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Fri, 06/23/2023 - 15:22 News Release Public documents on the appointees are available here.  Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed two nominations to the California Courts of Appeal in San Francisco and San Diego. The nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes: Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for the First Appellate District hearing), or Presiding Justice Manuel A. Ramirez (for the Fourth Appellate District hearing). The nominees confirmed were: Judge Danny Chou as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five (San Francisco)   Judge David Rubin as an associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One (San Diego) Appointee BiographiesJudge Danny Chou fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Henry E. Needham. Judge Chou has served as a San Mateo County Superior Court judge since 2018. Judge Chou served as an assistant county counsel at the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office from 2012 to 2018. He served as chief of complex and special litigation at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2012, where he was chief of appellate litigation from 2006 to 2008. Judge Chou served as a supervising staff attorney at the California Supreme Court from 2005 to 2006, where he was also a judicial staff attorney from 1999 to 2005. He was a staff attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1998 to 1999, an associate at Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk and Rabkin from 1995 to 1998, and a law clerk for Judge Stanley A. Weigel at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California from 1994 to 1995. Judge Chou earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. Judge David Rubin fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Cynthia G. Aaron. Judge Rubin has served as a San Diego County Superior Court judge since 2007. Judge Rubin served as a deputy district attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office from 1987 to 2007. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/commission-consider-appointments-courts-appeal Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of AppealBalassone, Merrill Wed, 03/01/2023 - 13:23 News Release SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold a public hearing on April 7 starting at 2 p.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom—located on the fourth floor of 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco—to consider the appointments of: Justice Tracie L. Brown as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Four (San Francisco) Judge Julia Kelety as an associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One (San Diego) Judge Jose S. Castillo as an associate justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One (San Diego) Seating in the courtroom will be limited—with some overflow seating also available in the Milton Marks Auditorium—and any mask requirements will be enforced as may be required by state and local health directives in effect at the time of the hearing. The hearing will be webcast 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, and Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for Justice Brown’s hearing), or Presiding Justice Manuel A. Ramirez (for Judge Castillo and Judge Kelety’s hearings). Appointee BiographiesJustice Tracie L. Brown would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Stuart R. Pollak. Justice Brown has served as an associate justice since 2018. Justice Brown served as a San Francisco County Superior Court judge from 2013 to 2018. She served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California from 2002 to 2013 and was an associate at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP from 1997 to 2002. Justice Brown served as a law clerk for Judge M. Margaret McKeown at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1998 to 1999 and was an associate at Morrison and Foerster LLP from 1996 to 1997. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Judge Julia Kelety would fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court. Judge Kelety has served as a San Diego County Superior Court judge since 2003. Judge Kelety was a partner and associate at Wiggins & Kelety LLP from 1997 to 2003. She served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California from 1990 to 1997 and was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher from 1986 to 1990. Judge Kelety served as a law clerk for Judge Mary M. Schroeder at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1985 to 1986. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School. Judge Jose S. Castillo would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Judith L. Haller. Judge Castillo has served as a San Diego County Superior Court judge since 2020. Judge Castillo served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California from 2010 to 2020. He served as a staff attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 2007 to 2010 and was an adjunct professor at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law from 2009 to 2010. Castillo served as a law clerk for Judge Micaela Alvarez at the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas from 2006 to 2007. Judge Castillo earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis 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. March 30 (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 Appointmentsc/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/commission-confirms-appellate-court-appointments Commission Confirms Appellate Court AppointmentsBalassone, Merrill Wed, 11/30/2022 - 11:18 News Release Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed three appointments to the California Courts of Appeal in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for Justice Stewart’s hearing) or Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for Judges Weingart and Viramontes). The nominees confirmed during the virtual public hearing were:  Justice Therese Stewart, as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two (San Francisco); Judge Gregory Weingart, as associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division One (Los Angeles); and Judge Victor Viramontes, as associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight (Los Angeles). The state Constitution specifies that a gubernatorial nomination or appointment to the Supreme Court or a Court of Appeal is “effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.” The commission consists of the chief justice of California, the attorney general of California, and the presiding justice of the Court of Appeal of the affected district or, if there are two or more presiding justices, the one who has presided longest or, for a nomination or appointment to the Supreme Court, the presiding justice who has presided the longest on any Court of Appeal. Appointee Biographies Justice Therese Stewart fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline. Justice Stewart has served as an associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two since 2014, and was the first openly lesbian justice to serve on the California Court of Appeal. Justice Stewart served as chief deputy city attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2014. She was a director at Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk and Rabkin PC from 1988 to 2002, where she was an associate from 1982 to 1988. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Phyllis A. Kravitch at the U.S. Court of Appeal, Eleventh Circuit from 1981 to 1982. Justice Stewart argued on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco in the trilogy of cases advocating for marriage equality for LGBT Californians in the California Supreme Court. She also led the team of San Francisco deputy city attorneys intervening as plaintiffs in the federal case challenging Proposition 8. Justice Stewart earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Judge Gregory Weingart fills the vacancy created by the removal of Justice Jeffrey Johnson. Judge Weingart has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2020 and from 2018 to 2019. He served as a Justice Pro Tem at the Second District Court of Appeal, Division One from 2019 to 2020. Judge Weingart was a partner at Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP from 2004 to 2018, where he was an associate from 1992 to 1995. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California from 1995 to 2004. Judge Weingart served as a law clerk for the Honorable William M. Byrne Jr. at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 1991 to 1992. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. Judge Victor Viramontes fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Maria Stratton. Judge Viramontes has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2017. Judge Viramontes was national senior counsel at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 2010 to 2017, where he was a staff attorney from 2001 to 2005. He was senior trial attorney at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 2008 to 2010, where he was a trial attorney from 2005 to 2008. Judge Viramontes was an associate at Heller Ehrman White and McAuliffe from 2000 to 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.