News Release

Chief Justice Appoints New Judicial Council Members

Jun 23, 2021

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye appointed two new advisory (non-voting) members to the Judicial Council. She also reappointed four voting members and two advisory members.

“The council’s mission is to ensure the court system is fair and accessible to all Californians,” said Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye. “While our new and returning members bring their individual and diverse experiences to the council, we make decisions with a statewide perspective. The state judicial branch is indebted to their dedication and service.”

Following are the two new appointments to the council that begin one-year terms starting Sept. 15:

  • Presiding Judge Theodore C. Zayner, Superior Court of Santa Clara County, as a non-voting advisory member in his role as chair of the council’s Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee. Judge Zayner also serves on the council’s Information Technology Advisory Committee, and teaches courses for the council’s Center for Judicial Education and Research. At the Santa Clara court, he served as supervising judge of the Civil Division; has served in the Civil, Criminal, Family, Drug, and Appellate Divisions; and chaired the Budget/Finance and Information Technology Services (ITS) Committees.
     
  • Judge Rupert A. Byrdsong, Superior Court of Los Angeles County, as a non-voting advisory member in his role as president-elect of the California Judges Association (CJA). Judge Byrdsong co-chairs CJA’s Task Force on the Elimination of Bias and Inequality in the Justice System and is a liaison to the California Lawyers’ Association. He is a founding member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers and served on the Executive Committee of the State Bar’s Labor and Employment Section from 2003-2007.

Following are the reappointments to the council whose newest three-year terms become effective September 15:

State Bar Appointee
In addition to the Chief Justice appointments, the State Bar Board of Trustees appointed David Fu to a three-year term as a voting member of the council beginning September 15. Fu is the principal of David Fu and Associates, a business law firm located in the San Gabriel Valley, where he advises clients concerning real estate, general business transactions and litigation, and estate planning.

Departing Council Members
Individuals concluding their terms as council members as of Sept. 14 include Presiding Judge Joyce D. Hinrichs, Judge Thomas A. Delaney, Court Executive Officer Nancy CS Eberhardt, and Attorney Patrick M. Kelly.

Judicial Council Membership
According to the state Constitution, the Chief Justice chairs the Judicial Council and appoints one other Supreme Court justice, three justices from the courts of appeal, 10 trial court judges, two nonvoting court administrators, “and any other nonvoting members as determined by the voting membership of the council.” The State Bar’s governing body appoints four members, and the state Senate and Assembly each appoint one member.

Council members are volunteers and do not receive additional compensation for their service. Most members serve three-year terms, and each year about a third of the membership rotates off and a new group is sworn in.