Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal

The live webcast will begin on June 24 at 1 p.m. and can be viewed here. 

The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public remote hearings on June 24 starting at 1 p.m. to consider three appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

The commission will consider the following appointments:

• 1 p.m.: Justice Helen Zukin, as presiding justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Four (Los Angeles) 

• 2 p.m.: Judge Armen Tamzarian, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Four (Los Angeles) 

• 3 p.m.: Judge Mark Hanasono, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles) 

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 appointments are California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Chair); California Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. 

Appointee Biographies 

Justice Helen Zukin would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Brian Currey. She has served as an associate justice in Division Four since 2023. Prior to that, she served as a judge in Los Angeles Superior Court from 2018 to 2023. Justice Zukin was a partner at Kiesel Law LLP from 2006 to 2018. She worked as a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Helen E. Zukin from 1995 to 2006. She was also a partner at Simke, Chodos, Silberfeld & Anteau, Inc. from 1990 to 1995, and worked as an associate at Greene, O’Reilly, Agnew & Broillet from 1985 to 1990. Justice Zukin earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. 

Judge Armen Tamzarian would fill the vacancy created by the pending confirmation of Justice Helen Zukin as presiding justice. He has served as a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2013. Judge Tamzarian was a lead appellate court attorney at the Second Appellate District, Division Three from 2008 to 2013. He was an associate and later a partner at Case, Knowlson, Jordan & Wright LLP from 1997 to 2008, and was a research attorney at the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1996 to 1997. Judge Tamzarian earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. 

Judge Mark Hanasono would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Luis A. Lavin. He has served as a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2013. Judge Hanasono served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2013 and was a deputy public defender in the office from 2000 to 2004. He was a judicial law clerk in the District of Columbia Superior Court from 1999 to 2000. Judge Hanasono earned a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University. 

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 Monday, June 16 (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.