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Mar 7, 2023
Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal
The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold virtual public hearings on April 17 starting at 10:30 a.m. to consider the appointments of: Judge Audra Mori as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four (Los Angeles) Judge Tari Cody as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Six (Ventura) Judge Rashida Adams as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three (Los Angeles) The hearings will be held virtually, and 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 Arthur Gilbert. Appointee Biographies Judge Audra Mori would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Thomas Willhite. Judge Mori has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2018. Judge Mori was managing partner of the Los Angeles Office of Perkins Coie LLP from 2017 to 2018, where she was a partner from 2005 to 2018. She was a partner at Piper Rudnick LLP from 2002 to 2004 and at Preston, Gates and Ellis LLP in 2002, where she was an associate from 1998 to 2001. Judge Mori was an associate at Andrews Kurth LLP from 1996 to 1998 and served as a law clerk to Senior Judge Richard W. Goldberg at the U.S. Court of International Trade from 1994 to 1996. She was an associate at Brobeck, Phleger and Harrison from 1992 to 1994. Mori earned a Juris Doctor degree from Cornell Law School. Judge Tari Cody would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Steven Z. Perren. Judge Cody has served as a Ventura County Superior Court judge since 2000. Judge Cody was an associate at Lemieux & O’Neill from 1994 to 2000. She was an associate and partner at Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton from 1985 to 1994. Judge Cody earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. Judge Rashida Adams would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Halim Dhanidina. Judge Adams has served as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2017. She served as a senior appellate court attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal from 2009 to 2017, where she was an appellate court attorney from 2008 to 2009. She was an associate at Caldwell Leslie and Proctor PC from 2005 to 2007 and at Bernabei and Katz PLLC from 2002 to 2005. Judge Adams earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale 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. April 10 (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.
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Mar 1, 2023
Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal
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 Biographies Justice 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 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.
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Jan 13, 2023
Commission Confirms Appointment to Sixth District Court of Appeal
Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today unanimously confirmed Daniel Bromberg as an associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose. The nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes Chief Justice Guerrero (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Administrative Presiding Justice Mary J. Greenwood. Bromberg will be sworn in by Administrative Presiding Justice Greenwood next week. Photos are available via Flickr here. Appointee Biography Daniel Bromberg has been a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP since 2021. He served as a deputy legal affairs secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2021. Bromberg was a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLC from 2005 to 2019 and was a partner and associate at Jones Day from 1994 to 2005. He was an associate at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel LLP from 1992 to 1994. He served as a law clerk for Judge Raymond Randolph at the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit from 1991 to 1992 and for Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 1990 to 1991. Bromberg earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.
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Oct 24, 2022
Commission to Consider Appellate Court Appointments
Public reports are available here. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold virtual public hearings on Nov. 30 starting at 3 p.m. to consider three appointments by Governor Gavin Newsom: 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 Commission members are: Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair) Attorney General Rob Bonta Presiding Justice Jim Humes (for Justice Stewart’s hearing) or Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for Judges Weingart and Viramontes). The three virtual hearings will be livestreamed via the California Courts Newsroom. 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 would fill 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 would fill 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 would fill 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. Testimony and Comment Persons who wish to testify or comment on these appointments must submit their information for receipt by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 21 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
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Aug 31, 2022
Commission to Consider Appellate Court Appointment
Public reports are available here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold a public hearing on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. to consider Governor Gavin Newsom's appointment of Judge Thomas Delaney as Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three (Santa Ana). The hearing will take place in the Supreme Court Courtroom, 350 McAllister Street, 4th Floor, in San Francisco. It will be webcast live on the California Courts Newsroom. The Commission members are: • Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair) • Attorney General Rob Bonta • Presiding Justice Manuel A. Ramirez Seating in the courtroom will be limited. Any mask requirements that may be specified by state and local health directives in effect at the time of the hearing will be enforced. 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 Biography Judge Thomas Delaney would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice David Thompson. He has served as an Orange County Superior Court judge since 2014. Judge Delaney was a partner at Sedgwick LLP from 2002 to 2014. He was an associate at Sedgwick Detert Moran and Arnold LLP from 1995 to 2001 and at Bodkin McCarthy Sargent and Smith from 1992 to 1995. Judge Delaney earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. Testimony and Comment Persons who wish to testify or comment on the appointment must submit their information for receipt by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Oct. 4. 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.
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Aug 10, 2022
Commission Confirms Appointment to Court of Appeal
Public documents are available here. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed the nomination of Jeremy M. Goldman to the First District Court of Appeal, Division Four (San Francisco). The nominees were confirmed by unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which included: Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair); Attorney General Rob Bonta; and Administrative Presiding Justice Jim Humes. California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, who attended law school with Justice Goldman, administered the oath of office. Appointee Biography Jeremy M. Goldman fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Alison Tucher to presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three. He is currently co-chief of appellate litigation at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, where he has also worked as deputy city attorney since 2014. Goldman was previously a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP from 2009 to 2014, and an associate there from 2002 to 2008. He served as a law clerk to Judge Rosemary Barkett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 2001 to 2002. Goldman earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School.
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Aug 3, 2022
Commission Confirms Appointments to Courts of Appeal
Public documents are available here. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed two nominations to the California Courts of Appeal in Sacramento and Ventura. 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 either Acting Presiding Justice Ronald Robie (for the Third District hearing) or Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for the Second District hearing). The nominees confirmed during the virtual public hearing were: Judge Stacy E. Boulware Eurie, as associate justice of the Third Appellate District (Sacramento) Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Six (Ventura). Appointee Biographies Judge Stacy E. Boulware Eurie fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice William J. Murray. She has served as a judge at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2007 and was presiding judge of the Juvenile Court there from 2010 to 2018. Judge Boulware Eurie served in several roles at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2000 to 2007, including senior assistant attorney general and deputy attorney general. She was an associate at Rothschild, Wishek & Sands LLP from 1996 to 2000. Judge Boulware Eurie earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Martin J. Tangeman. He has served as a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge since 2017, where he was the supervising criminal judge from December 2020 to September 2021. Judge Baltodano was a founding partner and senior litigation partner at Baltodano & Baltodano LLP from 2011 to 2017. He worked as senior associate at Sanchez & Amador LLP (2010 to 2011), Anderson McPharlin & Conners LLP (2010), and Robins Kaplan LLP (2006 to 2009). He worked as an associate at SR Holguin PC (2005 to 2006), Employee Law Group (2004 to 2005), and Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP (2003 to 2004). Judge Baltodano earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
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Jul 6, 2022
Commission to Consider Appellate Court Appointments
SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold two virtual public hearings on Aug. 3 to consider the following appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom: • 9 a.m.—Judge Stacy E. Boulware Eurie, as associate justice of the Third Appellate District (Sacramento) • 10 a.m. (*estimated time, immediately follows 9 a.m. hearing)—Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Six (Ventura). These hearings will be held remotely and webcast live on the California Courts Newsroom. The three commission members for each hearing are: • Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair); • Attorney General Rob Bonta; and • Acting Presiding Justice Ronald Robie (for the Third District hearing); • Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert (for the Second District hearing). 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 Biography Judge Stacy E. Boulware Eurie would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice William J. Murray. She has served as a judge at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2007 and was presiding judge of the Juvenile Court there from 2010 to 2018. Judge Boulware Eurie served in several roles at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2000 to 2007, including senior assistant attorney general and deputy attorney general. She was an associate at Rothschild, Wishek & Sands LLP from 1996 to 2000. Judge Boulware Eurie earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Martin J. Tangeman. He has served as a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge since 2017, where he was the supervising criminal judge from December 2020 to September 2021. Judge Baltodano was a founding partner and senior litigation partner at Baltodano & Baltodano LLP from 2011 to 2017. He worked as senior associate at Sanchez & Amador LLP (2010 to 2011), Anderson McPharlin & Conners LLP (2010), and Robins Kaplan LLP (2006 to 2009). He worked as an associate at SR Holguin PC (2005 to 2006), Employee Law Group (2004 to 2005), and Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai LLP (2003 to 2004). Judge Baltodano earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Testimony and Comment Persons who wish to testify or comment on the appointment must submit their information for receipt by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on July 27. 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.
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Jun 22, 2022
Wednesday: Commission to Consider Appellate Court Appointment
Public documents are available here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold a public hearing on Aug. 10 at 11:30 a.m. to consider the appointment by Gov. Gavin Newsom of: Jeremy M. Goldman, as associate justice of the First Appellate District, Division Four (San Francisco). This hearing will take place in the Supreme Court Courtroom, 350 McAllister Street, 4th Floor, in San Francisco, and also be webcast live on the California Courts Newsroom. The three commission members for the hearing are: • Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair); • Attorney General Rob Bonta; and • Administrative Presiding Justice Jim Humes. Seating in the courtroom will be limited—with some overflow seating also available in the 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 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 Biography Jeremy M. Goldman would fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Alison Tucher to presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three. He is currently co-chief of appellate litigation at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, where he has also worked as deputy city attorney since 2014. Goldman was previously a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP from 2009 to 2014, and an associate there from 2002 to 2008. He served as a law clerk to Judge Rosemary Barkett on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit from 2001 to 2002. Goldman earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. Testimony and Comment Persons who wish to testify or comment on the appointment must submit their information for receipt by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 3. 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.
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Feb 18, 2022
Commission on Judicial Appointments to Consider Appointment of Justice Patricia Guerrero to the California Supreme Court
Public documents are available here. SAN FRANCISCO—The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold a public hearing on March 22 at 11 a.m. in the Supreme Court Courtroom—350 McAllister Street in San Francisco—to consider the appointment of Justice Patricia Guerrero to the Supreme Court of California. Seating in the courtroom will be limited—with some overflow seating also available in the 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 Supreme Court is effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The commission members who will consider the appointment are Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair), California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and senior Presiding Justice of the state Court of Appeal Manuel A. Ramirez. Appointee Summary Biography Justice Guerrero would replace Associate Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, who left the bench effective October 31, 2021. Justice Guerrero has served as an associate justice at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One since 2017. A native of the Imperial Valley raised by immigrant parents from Mexico, Justice Guerrero began working in a grocery store at the age of 16 and graduated as co-valedictorian in high school. She continued working to help pay for her education while attending the University of California, Berkeley and Stanford Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor degree. Justice Guerrero was active in the Latino Law Students Association and helped fellow students at the recruitment and retention center. Prior to her appointment to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Justice Guerrero served as a judge at the San Diego County Superior Court from 2013 to 2017 and was supervising judge for the Family Law Division at the court in 2017. Justice Guerrero was hired as an associate at Latham & Watkins and became a partner in 2006. She served as an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California from 2002 to 2003. Justice Guerrero has contributed many hours of pro bono work, including as a member of the Advisory Board of the Immigration Justice Project, to promote due process and access to justice at all levels of the immigration and appellate court system. She has assisted clients on a pro bono basis in immigration matters, including asylum applications and protecting vulnerable families by litigating compliance with fair housing laws. California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye named her to the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Future of the California Bar Exam, and Justice Guerrero has been active in the Chief’s “Judges in the Classroom” civics program. Testimony and Comment Persons who wish to testify or comment on the appointment must submit their information for receipt by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on March 15. 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.
