Commission Confirms Three Appointments to Courts of Appeal

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 and Santa Ana:

• Judge Alexander Giza, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles)

• Judge Cindy Pánuco, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles)

• Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez, as associate justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three (Santa Ana)

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 Frances Rothschild (for the Second Appellate District hearings); and Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez (for the Fourth Appellate District hearing).

You can learn more in the public documents available for this hearing.

Appointee Biographies
Judge Alexander Giza fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Anne H. Egerton, effective Oct. 11. He has served as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge since 2019. He previously worked as a partner at Hueston Hennigan from 2015 to 2018, a partner at Russ August & Kabat from 2009 to 2014, and as an associate at Irell & Manella from 2001 to 2009. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

Judge Cindy Pánuco fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Rashida Adams to presiding justice. She has served as a Los Angeles Superior Court judge since 2024. She previously served as of counsel at Perez & Perez from 2023 to 2024, as partner at Hadsell Stormer & Renick LLP from 2016 to 2019, and as an associate from 2009 to 2016. She worked in multiple roles at the Los Angeles Public Counsel including as vice president and chief programs officer from 2020 to 2023 and directing attorney of the Consumer Rights and Economic Justice Project from 2018 to 2020. She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.

Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Maurice Sanchez. She has served as an Orange Superior Court judge since 2009 and as an Orange Superior Court commissioner from 2006 to 2009. She previously served as a senior deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 1995 to 2006 and worked as an associate at the Law Offices of Patrick D. McNeal from 1992 to 1995. She received her Juris Doctor from Western State College of Law.