Chief Justice Appoints New Judicial Council Members

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

“The council is made up of a diverse group of judges, court executives, attorneys, and legislators,” said the Chief Justice. “Together we bring our varied perspectives to ensure the administration of justice is consistent, impartial, and accessible for the people of California.”

The following new voting member of the council begins a three-year term starting Sept. 15:

• Judge Lucy Armendariz, Superior Court of Los Angeles County, serves as assistant supervising judge of the court’s Criminal Division (Traffic). She also serves on the California Commission on Access to Justice and on the Committee to Review the Operations and Structure of the Commission on Judicial Performance. She is involved in many mentoring organizations, including the Latina Lawyers Bar Association, East Los Angeles Community College Pathway to Law, and Roosevelt High School Law and Public Service Magnet. In addition, Judge Armendariz volunteered her time on the Supreme Court Blue Ribbon Commission on Foster Care, as well as on Leadership California, an organization dedicated to advancing the leadership role of women and girls.

The following two new advisory (non-voting) members of the council begin three-year terms starting Sept. 15:

• Judge Judith K. Dulcich, Superior Court of Kern County, currently presides over felony cases in the court's Criminal Division, but has handled calendars for traffic, family law, small claims, unlawful detainer, and limited civil cases. She has also served as both the Kern court's presiding judge and assistant presiding judge. Judge Dulcich serves as a member of the council's Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness and as a liaison to the State Bar's Council on Access and Fairness. She previously served on the council's Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Pretrial Reform Operations Workgroup.
    
• David H. Yamasaki serves as the court executive officer for the Superior Court of Orange County. Prior to his current role, he served as the chief executive officer of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County and as the assistant executive officer of the Superior Court of San Diego County. He is a member of the council’s Court Executives Advisory Committee, Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, and Information Technology Advisory Committee. Yamasaki has previously served as a member the Judicial Council, as chair to the council’s Court Executives Advisory Committee, and as a member of the council’s Language Access Plan Information Task Force.

The following two new advisory members to the council begin one-year terms starting Sept. 15:

• Presiding Judge Kimberly Merrifield, Superior Court of Butte County, will serve a one-year term on the council as chair of the council’s Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee. She is the supervising judge of her court’s Juvenile Division and previously served as supervising judge of its Criminal Division. Judge Merrifield serves as the District 1 Representative on the Executive Board of the California Judges Association (CJA), and as one of the CJA’s vice presidents. In addition, she participates in judicial outreach with the Judges in the Classroom and Judicial Mentorship programs.
   
• Judge David Rosenberg, Superior Court of Yolo County, will serve a one-year term on the council as the 91st President of the California Judges Association (CJA). He has served as the Yolo court’s presiding judge for three separate terms. Before joining the bench, Judge Rosenberg served as a supervisor in Yolo County and mayor of City of Davis. He has previously served as a member the Judicial Council, and currently serves as chair of its Advisory Committee on Audits and Financial Accountability for the Judicial Branch.

The following reappointed members of the council start their newest three-year terms on September 15:

• Justice Marsha G. Slough, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, as a voting member
   
• Judge C. Todd Bottke, Superior Court of Tehama County, as a voting member
   
• Judge David M. Rubin, Superior Court of San Diego County, as a voting member

Departing Council Members
Individuals concluding their terms as council members as of Sept. 14 include Judge Rupert A. Byrdsong, Judge Dalila C. Lyons, Judge Theodore C. Zayner, and Court Executive Officer Kevin Harrigan.

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.