Newsom nominates 3 court of appeal justices; names 18 superior court judges

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced three nominations to the California Courts of Appeal and the appointment of 18 judges to Superior Courts across the state.

Matthew Scherb was nominated to the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 8; Judge Corey Lee to the 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 2; and Judge Arlan Harrell to the 5th District Court of Appeal. All three nominations require confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

The governor also appointed new Superior Court judges in the counties of Alameda (3), Butte (1), Kings (1), Los Angeles (5), San Bernardino (1), San Diego (1), San Luis Obispo (1), San Mateo (1), Santa Clara (3), and Stanislaus (1).

The new appointees bring experience ranging from public defense and prosecution to civil litigation and judicial service.

Scherb has served as a chambers attorney at the California Supreme Court since 2021 and was a deputy Los Angeles city attorney from 2017 to 2021. He previously worked as an appellate court attorney from 2011 to 2017, an associate at Winston & Strawn LLP from 2005 to 2011, and a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. A graduate of Northwestern University law school, he fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Elizabeth A. Grimes.

Lee has served on the San Bernardino County Superior Court since 2015 and was deputy chief assistant U.S. attorney from 2008 to 2015. She previously worked as a deputy district attorney in San Bernardino County (2007-2008) and Riverside County (2004-2007), and clerked for the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office of Immigration Review (2003-2004). A Loyola Law School graduate, she fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Marsha G. Slough.

Harrell has served on the Fresno County Superior Court since 2006 and was a court commissioner there from 2003 to 2006. He previously worked as a deputy district attorney in Fresno County (1994-2003) and as an associate at Lang, Richert & Patch (1992-1994). A graduate of UC Davis School of Law, he fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Charles S. Poochigian.

Alameda County Superior Court

Diane Meier was appointed to the Alameda County Superior Court after serving as an appellate court attorney in the First District Court of Appeal since 2018. She was a senior staff attorney in the Solano County Superior Court from 2010 to 2018 and a legal research attorney in the San Mateo County Superior Court in 2009. A graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Charles A. Smiley to the Court of Appeal.

Julie Wilensky was appointed to the Alameda County Superior Court after serving as a deputy city attorney in San Francisco since 2022. She was a senior staff attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights from 2018 to 2022, a deputy county counsel in Santa Clara County from 2017 to 2018, and senior counsel at Disability Rights California from 2016 to 2017. She has also held positions with the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center, Lewis, Feinberg, Lee & Jackson, and served as a law clerk to federal judges John T. Noonan Jr. and Nicholas G. Garaufis. A Yale Law School graduate, she fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Noel Wise to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Cara Sandberg was appointed to the Alameda County Superior Court after serving as a deputy county counsel in Santa Clara County since 2023. She was previously of counsel at Conrad Metlitzky Kane LLP and a chambers attorney at the California Supreme Court. Sandberg also served as a law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. A graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the departure of Judge Ursula Jones Dickson, who was elected district attorney.

Butte County Superior Court

Ruby Neumann was appointed to the Butte County Superior Court after serving as a court commissioner in the Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Plumas County Superior Courts since 2023. She was an assistant district attorney in Glenn County from 2014 to 2023 and previously worked in private practice. A graduate of Lincoln Law School, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael P. Candela.

Kings County Superior Court

Jim Trevino was appointed to the Kings County Superior Court after practicing law at his own firm since 2008. He previously worked at Grossman Law Offices, Parker, Kern, Nard & Wenzel, and the Law Office of Peter Singh. A graduate of San Joaquin College of Law, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Randy L. Edwards.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Veronica Ramos was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court after serving as a deputy public defender since 2008. She was an interim justice deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis from 2019 to 2020 and briefly worked at Jones Day. A graduate of UC College of the Law, San Francisco, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Bloom.

Renee Williams was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court after serving as an assistant city attorney since 2021. She previously held leadership roles at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender's Office, taught as an adjunct professor, practiced privately, and worked at Bryan Cave LLP. A graduate of the University of Southern California School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dorothy L. Shubin.

Melinda Porter was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court after serving as a commissioner since 2025. She was a deputy public defender from 2007 to 2025 and earlier worked as a judicial assistant at the court. A graduate of Western State University College of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Terry L. Smerling.

Amanda Park was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court after serving as a commissioner since 2024. She previously worked as an attorney at the Department of Child Support Services and as a deputy district attorney in Kern County. A graduate of Loyola Law School, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Douglas Stern.

Osman Abbasi was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court after serving as a deputy attorney general in the California Attorney General's Office. He previously worked as an inspector at the Los Angeles County Office of the Inspector General, a deputy district attorney, and an assistant district attorney in the Bronx. A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anthony A. Trendacosta.

San Bernardino County Superior Court

Maggie Yang was appointed to the San Bernardino County Superior Court after serving as a deputy district attorney there since 2007. A graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John M. Pacheco.

San Diego County Superior Court

Todd Stevens was appointed to the San Diego County Superior Court after working at Keeney Waite & Stevens since 1989, including as managing partner. A graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John B. Scherling.

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court

Kenneth McDaniel was appointed to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court after serving as a commissioner there since 2022. He previously practiced privately and held various legal roles in the county. A graduate of the Santa Barbara College of Law, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gayle Peron.

San Mateo County Superior Court

Michael Mau was appointed to the San Mateo County Superior Court after serving as a commissioner there since 2022. He previously practiced privately for more than two decades and held earlier positions at McLemore, Collins & Toschi and Simpson, Aherne & Garrity. A graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jonathan E. Karesh.

Santa Clara County Superior Court

Kemi Mustapha was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court after serving as managing attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid since 2024, where she has held multiple roles since 2012. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen A. Folan.

Sarah Cook was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court after serving as director of policy and legal services at the Dependency Advocacy Center since 2023, where she has worked in various roles since 2013. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge L. Michael Clark.

Mark Flanagan was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court after nearly two decades as a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr. He previously served as a federal prosecutor and taught at UC Berkeley School of Law. A graduate of UC Berkeley School of Law, he fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Arthur Bocanegra.

Stanislaus County Superior Court

Sarah Birmingham was appointed to the Stanislaus County Superior Court after running her own practice since 2020. She previously worked at Gianelli & Associates, Curtis Legal Group, and California Rural Legal Assistance. A graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law, she fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Ann Q. Ameral.