Southern California Appellate News

Quartet of Election Profiles: Guerra, Adams, Servino, Daum

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:44:12 +0000

The DJ's latest batch of appellate justice election profiles:

From restaurant critic to appellate justice, Guerra values people's stories -- Justice Amy K. Guerra, a former defense attorney and family law judge, seeks retention on the 5th District after writing two published opinions, one already followed by another appellate court.

Guerra graduated from San Joaquin College of Law. She defended homicide cases at Fresno County's Alternate Defense Office, becoming chief defense attorney in 2014. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her in 2018 to the Fresno County Superior Court, where she handled family law, felony domestic violence and trials, and supervised collaborative courts.

Adams brings a habit of listening and explaining to 6th District -- A former family law research attorney and federal law clerk, Justice Charles F. Adams presided over CARE Court before joining the appellate bench in August.

After graduating from Pepperdine University School of Law, Adams practiced family law before becoming a Santa Clara County Superior Court research attorney in 2006. He later spent seven years clerking for U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila.

Justice seeking retention called a judicial 'Swiss-Army knife' -- Justice Deborah C. Servino, a former deputy attorney general who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and conducted more than 180 civil trials, seeks retention on the 4th District.

Before joining the bench, Justice Deborah C. Servino argued a Miranda case before the U.S. Supreme Court and won a 5-4 ruling for California.
... Her appellate career began after graduating from UC Berkeley School of Law, when she clerked for 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Melvin T. Brunetti. After a year at Rutan & Tucker LLP, she joined the California attorney general's office to handle criminal appeals. ... Servino was lead counsel in more than 150 California Court of Appeal cases and argued before the California Supreme Court.

Daum brings a historian's eye and a litigator's range to the 2nd District -- Justice Nicholas F. Daum, a former entertainment litigator and trial judge, seeks retention on the 2nd District after writing rulings addressing the constitutional rights, employment disputes, arbitration and housing law.

Before the bench, Daum spent nearly two decades as a civil litigator. After graduating from Yale Law School, he clerked for 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Raymond C. Fisher, whom he called "a mentor and idol." He spent 13 years at Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP, where he became a partner and helped lead the entertainment and media practice and did pro bono voting rights work. ... Off the bench, Daum chairs the board of the Western Justice Center, "an organization that promotes effective and peaceful conflict resolution techniques in schools throughout LA County," he wrote.

Next triad of election profiles: Castillo, Rubin, Harrell

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:55:09 +0000

The DJ's next tranche of appellate election profiles:

Former Marine and federal prosecutor seeks four-year term on 4th District -- Justice Jose S. Castillo, a former Marine and federal prosecutor, has written on sports instructor liability, Privette, whistleblowers and restraining orders since joining the 4th District Court of Appeal in 2023.

Rubin upholds murder conviction after victim's family ends life support -- Justice David M. Rubin, a prosecutor for two decades and a San Diego trial judge for 16 years, joined the 4th District Court of Appeal in 2023.

After 200 trials, Harrell weighs evidence from appellate bench -- Former Fresno presiding judge Arlan Harrell brings experience from more than 200 trials to the 5th District Court of Appeal, where his first published opinion addressed disputed breath-test evidence.

The DJ also has California Supreme Court names 2 judges to ethics panel -- Judges Michael B. Harper and Patricia L. Kelly will join the 12-member committee, while appellate Justice Shama Hakim Mesiwala was reappointed to another four-year term on the Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.

More election profiles: Do, Kelety, DeSantos

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Sat, 24 Oct 2026 20:53:48 +0000

Monday's DJ has three more election profiles:

Do's warning in impaired-driving murder case shapes later ruling -- Justice Truc Do's concurrence in an impaired-driving murder case influenced a later appellate ruling. The former homicide prosecutor and judge seeks a 12-year term on the 4th District Court of Appeal.

Kelety's criminal rulings demand proof beyond defendants' violent pasts -- Justice Julia C. Kelety, a former probate judge seeking retention Nov. 3, has questioned evidence and jury instructions in murder, attempted murder and sexual abuse cases.

From Kings County farm fields to the 5th District bench -- Justice Thomas DeSantos, a former Kings County lawyer and judge, draws on decades of courtroom experience in appellate rulings involving farm labor, whistleblower protections and medical staffing as he seeks retention.

election profile trio: Dato, Meehan, Lee

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:48:02 +0000

Today's trio of DJ election profiles:

Dato warned lawyers against courtroom fights and stretching facts -- Justice William S. Dato, who has worked at every level of California's courts, brings an appellate specialist's approach to judging. The 4th District justice seeks a 12-year term Nov. 3.

Meehan's reasoning finds its way into high court rulings, state law -- Justice Kathleen Meehan's opinions on plea agreements and transgender privacy influenced California Supreme Court decisions and legislation. The Fresno native, on the 5th District since 2017, faces voters Nov. 3.

Supreme Court ruling bolsters new justice's earlier dissents -- Justice Corey G. Lee seeks retention after less than a year on the 4th District. Two earlier dissents she wrote gained support from a subsequent California Supreme Court ruling.

3 more election profiles: Scherb, Snauffer, Gooding

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:48:21 +0000

The DJ next features:

New appellate justice's DoorDash ruling divides 2nd District panel -- Justice Matthew A. Scherb, appointed to the 2nd District less than a year ago, wrote a divided DoorDash arbitration ruling and opinions on partnership liability and sentencing before facing voters Nov. 3.

Before joining the court, Scherb practiced copyright and trademark litigation at Winston & Strawn LLP in San Francisco. He was an appellate attorney to 1st District Justice Kathleen M. Banke from 2011 to 2017, then in the Los Angeles City Attorney's civil appeals section until 2021, volunteering at Public Counsel's Appellate Clinic for Self-Represented Litigants. He was a chambers attorney to state Supreme Court Justice Martin J. Jenkins from 2021 until his appointment. Banke told the appointments commission they sometimes started down one road until Scherb suggested a rethink. "Usually I agreed, and we'd switch gears," she said. A Yale computer science graduate, Scherb earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. At his confirmation hearing, Scherb said: "It's not our role at the court to act on our policy preferences. Our role is to act on the law as written by the Legislature and as interpreted by the California Supreme Court, the United States Supreme Court."Supreme Court weighs Snauffer's ruling on Kern River water rights -- Justice Mark W. Snauffer's Kern River ruling is before the California Supreme Court. The 5th District justice also upheld a voter-approved Fresno tax and seeks retention Nov. 3.

Supreme Court weighs Snauffer's ruling on Kern River water rights -- Justice Mark W. Snauffer's Kern River ruling is before the California Supreme Court. The 5th District justice also upheld a voter-approved Fresno tax and seeks retention Nov. 3.

Gooding: Seriousness of old crime can't block rehabilitation certificate -- Justice Martha K. Gooding, a former senior litigator, has ruled on rehabilitation, speedy trials and trade secrets. The state Supreme Court reversed one decision. She faces voters Nov. 3.

Original Jurisdiction has ‘Lawyer’ Vs. ‘Attorney’: Is This A Thing? in which David Lat combed through decades-old dictionaries and case law—and interviewed Bryan Garner, the longtime editor of Black's Law Dictionary—to find out.

And 3 more election profiles: Danner, Raphael, Boulware Eurie

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 19:09:36 +0000

The DJ parade of election profiles of appellate justices continues:

Danner's opinions shape high court decisions as she trains new justices -- Justice Allison Danner, who trains new appellate justices, and whose rulings the state Supreme Court has drawn on or upheld in cases on police searches, murder resentencing and pension bonds. She seeks retention Nov. 3.

Supreme Court sided with Justice Raphael in 3 cases -- 4th District Justice Michael J. Raphael, seeking a 12-year term Nov. 3, wrote a dissent, concurrence and majority opinion whose positions were subsequently upheld by the California Supreme Court.

From juvenile court to water law, Boulware Eurie expands her reach -- Justice Stacy Boulware Eurie has expanded into water and environmental law while maintaining her commitment to child welfare and judicial education. She seeks a 12-year term on Nov. 3.

3 more election profiles: Feinberg, Hanasono, Tamzarian

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:22:35 +0000

The DJ's rollout of appellate justice election profiles continues with:

Feinberg brings exacting approach to writing and interpreting the law -- Justice Aimee Feinberg, a former California deputy solicitor general who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, seeks retention Nov. 3.

Justice Hanasono stresses clear, accessible opinions -- Justice Mark Hanasono, whose family's World War II internment history inspired his legal career, brings experience as a public defender and trial judge to the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

"Every opinion we write is an opportunity to explain -- not just decide," Hanasono said in an email about appellate work. "If our rulings aren't clear or accessible, they're not useful."

Tamzarian brings trial judge's eye for fairness to 2nd District -- Justice Armen Tamzarian, a former Los Angeles trial judge, has written opinions on workplace harassment, electronic privacy and long-term leases. His experiences with litigants shaped his approach to judicial fairness.

"When I left my law firm and started here at the Court of Appeal, the clouds parted for me," he said at his confirmation hearing. "I learned something about myself: I love the law. I don't necessarily like being an advocate. I'm much better suited to be a neutral." Earlier, he was a partner at Case, Knowlson, Jordan & Wright LLP, handling business litigation and constitutional challenges to government regulations. Born in Kuwait, Tamzarian came to the United States from Lebanon as a boy. He worked as an insurance claims adjuster before graduating from Southwestern Law School in 1995.

The DJ also has California courts face growing judge shortage as caseloads become more complex -- A Judicial Council study found California needs 231 additional judgeships across 22 counties, more than double the shortfall identified in 2022, as increasingly complex cases and new legal requirements strain the courts.

Big change coming for CA appellate records!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:33:56 +0000

On Friday, October 16, the Judicial Council approved numerous proposals affecting appellate practice, including proposal 26-115 requiring the use of appendixes in (most) civil appeals. This rule, effective Jan. 1, 2027, will drastically reduce the use of Clerk's Transcripts as the record on appeal and so presumably will increase speed and efficiency in the appellate process.

#tombstone#CT#RIP

Today's DJ also has Myron Moskovitz's column Working, Part 7: The reply brief -- A powerful appellate reply brief turns opposing counsel's arguments against them, delivers the final word and gives the court compelling reasons to reverse.

2 more election profiles: Bromberg, Delaney

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:01:25 +0000

More DJ election profiles:

Bromberg brought 3 decades of appellate advocacy to 6th District court -- Justice Daniel H. Bromberg's MICRA dissent won unanimous agreement from the California Supreme Court. A former appellate specialist and Newsom administration lawyer, he seeks a 12-year retention term Nov. 3.

Before Bromberg joined the appellate court, the Harvard Law School graduate spent three decades as an appellate specialist and had never been a judge. ... At Jones Day, where he worked 11 years, Bromberg wrote several dozen U.S. Supreme Court briefs and successfully argued Cortez Byrd Chips Inc. v. Bill Harbert Construction Co. (2000). In 2005, he helped former Stanford Law School Dean Kathleen Sullivan establish an appellate practice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. They represented USC in Sargon Enterprises Inc. v. University of Southern California (2012), a leading California Supreme Court decision requiring trial judges to exclude speculative or unreliable expert testimony. ... Newsom appointed Bromberg deputy legal affairs secretary in 2019, overseeing litigation against the Trump administration. ... Bromberg left the administration in 2021 to lead Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's national appellate practice. He also was founding director of UC Law San Francisco's California Appellate Advocacy Program and taught California constitutional law at Berkeley Law.

Delaney's opinions draw lines on privilege, debt collection and civility -- Justice Thomas A. Delaney has written appellate opinions on privileged emails, debt collection and lawyer civility. A former Orange County trial judge, he seeks a four-year retention term Nov. 3.

The Orange County chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates gave Delaney its civility award in 2019. A 1992 Loyola Law School graduate, Delaney spent more than two decades in civil litigation, defending product liability and mass tort cases and organizations sued over sexual abuse. ... He was the California Judges Association president in 2020-21.

Election profiles: Langhorne Wilson, Scott

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:11:28 +0000

The DJ's latest pair of election profiles:

Langhorne Wilson's appellate rulings draw on years as trial judge -- Justice Monique Langhorne Wilson, a former Napa County trial judge, has written opinions on murder resentencing, whistleblower retaliation and alleged coaching abuse. She seeks retention on Nov. 3.

Scott's sanctions opinion warns lawyers they are 'not mere mouthpieces' -- Justice Nathan R. Scott of the 4th District, Division 3, who co-chairs the Orange County Bar Association's civility task force, sanctioned a lawyer $25,000 for baseless accusations against a trial judge. He seeks retention Nov. 3.

New CAAL Member

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:29:47 +0000

California Academy of Appellate Lawyers Announces New Member

The California Academy of Appellate Lawyers is pleased to announce that it admitted Nadia Sarkis as a new member at its October 3, 2026 meeting.

Ms. Sarkis is a partner at Miller Barondess, LLP. She received her Juris Doctor from Northwestern School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University. After law school, Ms. Sarkis clerked for Ferdinand F. Fernandez of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and for Chief Justice Mary Mullarky of the Colorado Supreme Court. She is a State Bar of California certified specialist in appellate law.

Founded in 1972, the Academy is the nation’s oldest lawyers’ organization dedicated to appellate practice. Our members are California lawyers with substantial appellate experience, who are elected to membership after rigorous scrutiny of their reputation, character, and appellate advocacy skills. Academy members are frequently counsel of record in the most complex and highest-impact cases before the California Supreme Court, California Courts of Appeal, and federal appellate courts. More information about the Academy appears on its website at www.CalAppellate.org.

Election profiles: Smiley, Stone, Motoike, Renner

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:20:59 +0000

Today's DJ has more election profiles:

Smiley's rulings trace limits of law from flagpoles to criminal courts -- Justice Charles A. Smiley III has ruled on flag displays, criminal sentencing and probation conditions since joining the 1st District Court of Appeal after 18 years on the Alameda County bench.

Justice Stone reversed murder conviction after judge advised prosecutors -- Justice Natalie Stone reversed a murder conviction over a judge's efforts to aid prosecutors and has written on rent control, port emissions and criminal justice as she faces voters Nov. 3.

Supreme Court sided with Motoike in two of her three dissents -- New 4th District Presiding Justice Joanne Motoike, whose dissents were twice vindicated by the state Supreme Court, faces retention vote.

Supreme Court twice backs Renner's reasoning as he faces voters -- Twice, the California Supreme Court has unanimously adopted 3rd District Justice Jonathan Renner's reasoning. The former legal affairs secretary to Gov. Jerry Brown seeks a full 12-year term Nov. 3.

Today's DJ also has the special insert Top Boutiques 2026, which features Woodland Hills appellate boutique Benedon & Serlin, LLP.

Let's talk about writs!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:48:37 +0000

The California Law Revision Commission has issued Memorandum 2026-32 (Aug. 6, 2026) "Writ Procedures: Introduction of Study":

The Legislature passed ACR 168 (Pacheco) on July 15, 2026, part of which directs the Commission to study “whether the Code of Civil Procedure should be revised, including, but not limited to, whether the statutes governing writ procedures should be revised.”

SFVBA 4-part Appellate mcle

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:03:28 +0000

For the San Fernando Valley Bar Assn, H&L's David Axelrad presents Appeals in California: What you Always Wanted to Know, a four-part series of one-hour programs at noon running Oct. 14 (an overview of the California state appellate process) & Oct. 21 (preserving issues for appeal), Dec. 2 (obtaining stays of enforcement pending appeal) & Dec. 9 (tips on appellate brief writing and oral argument). Free to SFVBA members; $30 for non-members.

9th Cir. Chief Mediator retires

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:54:39 +0000

Stephen Liacouras, until recently the Ninth Circuit's Chief Mediator, has set up Liacouras Mediation:

Full-time mediator since 2001; successfully resolved more than 1,000 complex civil disputes.
Chief Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2018–2026; Led the nation's largest court-staffed appellate mediation program.
Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2001–2018.
Mediation practice areas include business and commercial, civil rights, insurance, ERISA, employment, environmental and natural resources, intellectual property, personal injury and wrongful death, real property, housing, and financial services.
Extensive teaching of mediation and negotiation skills to judges, attorneys, and law students.

More election profiles: Mesiwala, Martinez

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:53:29 +0000

The DJ's latest batch of appellate profiles for the election are:

Mesiwala brings research attorney's eye to 3rd District bench -- Justice Shama Mesiwala, a former 3rd District research attorney, has written on prison credits, tribal child welfare and criminal procedure as she seeks a four-year term Nov. 3.

Martinez's eviction ruling reaches high court ahead of retention vote -- Presiding Justice Gonzalo C. Martinez, Jr., whose L.A. eviction ruling is before the California Supreme Court, has written opinions on government authority, consumer fees and environmental review as he faces voters Nov. 3.

Law.com has Appellate Trial Support: Accelerating Growth or ‘New Normal’ for Defense Teams? -- According to legal observers in Philadelphia, defense appellate trial support has become a fixture in high-stakes litigation.

Ability, not politics, for law clerks

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:18:12 +0000

Reuters has Judges say ‘fit’ and ability outweigh politics in law clerk hiring

Despite a perception among US law students that politics plays a key role in judicial clerk hiring, judges themselves say political ideology is not a top factor, according to a new study on how judges pick their clerks.
Instead, judges say they seek to identify law ‌students and recent law graduates who can meet their demands while getting along with everyone and ideally forming lifelong relationships.

Justices confirmed!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Sat, 10 Oct 2026 02:36:05 +0000

The DJ has Newsom nominees Giza, Pánuco and Hernandez confirmed to appellate courts -- The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed three Superior Court judges to California appellate courts, with supporters praising their legal expertise, judicial temperament and commitment to public service.

The Recorder has Commission Confirms Three to California's Courts of Appeal -- The confirmations leave just a few open appellate seats for Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill before he leaves office in January.

Law360 has Calif. Commission Bumps Up 3 Judges To Appellate Posts:

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges Alexander Giza and Cindy Pánuco will fill seats in the California Court of Appeal's Second Appellate District, Division Three, in Los Angeles, the commission said. Orange County Superior Court Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez, meanwhile, will become a justice of the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, in Santa Ana.

Election profiles: Cody, Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:04:15 +0000

The DJ continues to roll out profiles of the justices up for retention election:

New presiding justice Cody brings close reading, collegiality to Division 6 -- Presiding Justice Tari L. Cody of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 6, a former juvenile court judge known for taking the time to get rulings right, faces her first retention vote.

Wilson pairs focus on courtroom fairness with mentoring future lawyers -- Justice Charles E. Wilson II of the 6th District Court of Appeal has written on courtroom fairness, worker pay and government authority while building mentoring programs for future lawyers and judges.

Alito at Pepperdine last month

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:50:12 +0000

Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Hosts US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Judge Allison Jones Rushing, and Judge Andrew Oldham for Armand Arabian Advocacy Tournament

On Friday, September 25, 2026, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law hosted the final round of its annual Armand Arabian Advocacy Tournament. The prestigious moot court competition challenges law students to argue complex, hypothetical legal issues before a distinguished panel of jurists. This year’s final round featured US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito presiding as chief justice, alongside judge Allison Jones Rushing of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and judge Andrew Oldham of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

More election justice profiles: Desautels, Zukin, Earl, Mori

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:40:55 +0000

The DJ has:

Desautels' rulings weigh deference, responsibility and litigation choices -- Justice Tara Desautels' appellate opinions examine burdens, deference and trial tactics, reflecting an approach shaped by her years as a prosecutor and trial judge as she faces voters Nov. 3.

Justice Zukin helped build state's judicial mentor program, faces first retention vote -- Presiding Justice Helen Zukin of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 4, a former complex-litigation lawyer who helped develop California's judicial mentoring program, faces her first retention vote.

Earl helped steer 3rd District out of years of delays -- Justice Laurie Earl helped lead the 3rd District out of a yearslong case backlog while emphasizing quality over speed, an approach reflected in her rulings as she faces voters Nov. 3.

Mori aims to bring equal-treatment focus to law, judging -- Justice Audra Mori, whose family's wartime internment shaped her views on fairness and equal treatment, has written opinions emphasizing statutory language and legal boundaries as she faces voters Nov. 3.

LASCAD seeks appointed counsel

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:48:10 +0000

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County’s Appellate Division is seeking qualified attorneys to represent indigent defendants. Upon Appellate Division approval, appointed attorneys are compensated by the Professional Appointee Court Expenditure (PACE) program at a rate of $100 per hour and are appointed to represent indigent defendants through an alphabetical rotation process. Occasionally, and in the interest of judicial economy and efficiency, an attorney may be appointed out of order when there is a related pending appeal for the same defendant. Email application materials (cover letter, resume, and two recent writing samples) to: Patti Jo McKay, Presiding Judge, Appellate Division, Care of Lynette Brooks at LBrooks@lacourt.ca.gov

Court of Appeal Holds Special Session for Alameda High School Students -- More than 400 Alameda High School students will attend oral argument of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five.

DJ election profiles: Chou, Hoffstadt, Brown, Stewart, Weingart, Viramontes

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 02:13:44 +0000

The DJ appellate profile parade continues with:

Justice Danny Chou, an appellate lawyer at heart, faces first retention vote -- Justice Danny Y. Chou of the 1st District Court of Appeal, a longtime public-law appellate lawyer who helped win marriage equality and a lead paint judgment against manufacturers, faces his first retention vote.

Appellate work has run through Chou's career. "One of the things I really do enjoy is research and writing," he told the Daily Journal in 2019, "to the extent that I've looked for work that includes that as a component." After Harvard Law School, he clerked for a federal judge, practiced privately and worked at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before spending seven years at the California Supreme Court, where he became a supervising staff attorney. In 2006, he became chief of appellate litigation at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office and helped establish the right of same-sex couples to marry in California in state and federal court.

Hoffstadt brings questioning style to role leading Division 5 -- Presiding Justice Brian M. Hoffstadt of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, Division 5, known for questioning lawyers early and often, asks voters to keep him on the bench.

1st District Presiding Justice Tracie Brown seeks 12-year term -- Presiding Justice Tracie L. Brown of the 1st District Court of Appeal, a former federal prosecutor who wrote the opinion largely upholding Proposition 22, seeks a full 12-year term.

Presiding Justice Stewart prizes consensus as murder law shifts -- Stewart, who argued San Francisco's marriage-equality cases before joining the bench, has written a series of opinions reversing denials of resentencing as California narrowed murder liability.

Former prosecutor, family law judge seeks full 12-year appellate term -- Justice Gregory J. Weingart, a former federal prosecutor, Munger Tolles partner and family law judge, brings a varied background to cases ranging from billion-dollar damages to domestic violence as he faces his first retention vote.

Former teacher's rulings range from school safety to dependency law -- Justice Victor G. Viramontes of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, a former civil rights litigator and sixth-grade teacher, faces his first retention vote.

tidbits

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:01:52 +0000

Law.com has Judge Newman Gets Suspension Fight Transferred To 11th Circ. -- The chief justice has transferred the Federal Circuit's investigation of suspended U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman to the Eleventh Circuit, the latter court said Tuesday.

And see: Year in Review: California Supreme Court 2025-2026 -- Highlights and key statistics from the 2025–2026 court year

Today's DJ has the monthly Exceptionally Appealing column, titled From the Mailbag.

2d Dist. COJA hearings on Oct. 9

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Shatz (SCAN)) — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:27:36 +0000

Commission to Consider Appointments to the 2nd District Court of Appeal

The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public remote hearings on Friday, October 9, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m. to consider two appointments to the Second District Court of Appeal by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The following is the morning schedule:

9:30 a.m.: Judge Alexander Giza, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles)

10:30 a.m.: Judge Cindy Pánuco, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles)

Additional information about the appointments is available on the California Courts Newsroom webpage: Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal | California Courts Newsroom

The hearing webcasts will be streamed live via the Upcoming Events link on the California Courts Newsroom.