judicial assignments san diego

Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 7.28.23

Published: Jul 28, 2023

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 17 Superior Court Judges, which include one in Alameda County; one in Fresno County; one in Kern County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Merced County; one in Orange County; one in Sacramento County; one in San Bernardino County; two in San Diego County; two in San Luis Obispo County; two in Shasta County; and one in Ventura County.

Alameda County Superior Court

Sarah Sandford-Smith, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Sandford-Smith has served as an Administrative Law Judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings since January 2022. She was a Partner at Beeson, Tayer & Bodine APC from 2015 to 2021. She was Legal Director for Teamsters Local 856 from 2014 to 2015. Sandford-Smith was an Associate and then Partner at Beeson, Tayer & Bodine APC from 2005 to 2014. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Kelli Evans to the California Supreme Court. Sandford-Smith is a Democrat.

Fresno County Superior Court

Mary Vasquez, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court. Vasquez has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office since 2013, currently serving as Chief Defense Attorney. She was an Associate at Walters & Moshrefi from 2012 to 2013. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. Vasquez fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rosemary McGuire. She is a Democrat.

Kern County Superior Court

Tanya Richard, of Kern County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Kern County Superior Court. Richard has served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Kern County Public Defender’s Office since 2022. She served as Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Kern County Public Defender’s Office from 2020 to 2022 and as a Deputy Public Defender there from 2008 to 2020. Richard earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ralph Wyatt. She is a Democrat.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Deborah Horowitz, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Horowitz has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 1994. She served as Misdemeanor Trial Attorney at Alternate Defense Counsel of Van Nuys from 1993 to 1994. Horowitz was a Law Clerk and later Associate at the Law Offices of Horngrad & Wachtel from 1991 to 1993. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Bruce Brodie. Horowitz is a Democrat.

Evan A. Kitahara, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Kitahara has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2019. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2019. He served as a Child Support Enforcement Officer at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Child Support Enforcement Bureau in 1997. Kitahara earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Craig Karlan. He is a Democrat.

Michael Wilson, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Wilson has been Owner and Managing Attorney at Curat Lex Inc. since 2013. He was an Associate at Epps Yong & Coulson LLP from 2009 to 2013 and at Kralik & Jacobs LLP from 2006 to 2009. Wilson was Managing Attorney at Wilson & Taylor LLP from 2005 to 2006. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.  Wilson fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Beverly Bourne. He is a Democrat.

Merced County Superior Court

David Hood, of Stanislaus County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. Hood has served as a Legal Research Attorney at the Stanislaus County Superior Court since 2022. He served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Merced County Counsel’s Office from 2019 to 2022. Hood served as a Senior Research Attorney at the Orange County Superior Court from 2013 to 2019, where he was a Coordinating Attorney from 2009 to 2013 and a Research Attorney from 2005 to 2009. Hood was Associate Counsel at the Law Offices of Kevin McGowen from 2002 to 2005. He worked as a Legal Assistant at various temporary agencies from 1992 to 2002 and was an Associate at Goldberg, Stinnett & MacDonald in 1991 and at Martin, Ryan & Andrada in 1990. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Hood fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Kirihara. He is a Democrat.

Orange County Superior Court

Tania Vallejo, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Vallejo has served as a Commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2022. She served in several roles at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2022, including Senior Deputy Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender and Deputy Public Defender. She was a Complaint Analyst at the State Bar of California from 2005 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. Vallejo fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Glenda Sanders. She is a Democrat.

Sacramento County Superior Court

Jeffrey Galvin, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Galvin has been a Litigation Partner at Downey Brand LLP since 2001 and has served in several roles there since 1998, including as Assistant General Counsel and Pro Bono Coordinator. He served as a Staff Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission from 1994 to 1998, and as a Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 1993 to 1994. Galvin earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Geoffrey Goodman. He is a Democrat.

San Bernardino County Superior Court

Jessica Morgan, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Morgan has served as a Deputy County Counsel in the San Bernardino County Counsel’s Office since 2015. She was a Staff Attorney at Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers, Inc. from 2007 to 2015. She is a nationally certified Child Welfare Law Specialist. Morgan earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. Morgan fills the vacancy of a new position created on July 1, 2022. She is a Democrat.

San Diego County Superior Court

Sara Kirby, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Kirby has served as a Commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2022, where she was a Staff Attorney from 2012 to 2022. She was an Associate at the Law Offices of Sandra Morris from 2009 to 2012 and at Moore, Lewis, Schulman & Moore APC from 2005 to 2009. Kirby earned a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kenneth So. Kirby is registered without party preference.

Francisco Sanchez, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Sanchez has been a Sole Practitioner since 2003. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California from 2001 to 2003 and at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona from 1999 to 2001. Sanchez served as an Attorney in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona from 1997 to 1999. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Maricopa Public Defender’s Office from 1995 to 1997. Sanchez earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Arizona State University College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Browder Willis. Sanchez is a Democrat. San Luis Obispo County Superior Court

Judge Michael Kelley, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. He has served as a Judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2018. Judge Kelley was a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP from 1987 to 2018. He was a Partner at Kadison, Pfaelzer, Woodard, Quinn and Rossi in 1987, where he was an Associate from 1979 to 1986. Judge Kelley earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Charles Crandall. He is a Democrat.

Crystal Tindell Seiler, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Seiler has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office since 2021. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2017 and at the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2011. Seiler served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Frederick H. Weisberg at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia from 2008 to 2009. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. Seiler fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Hernaldo Baltodano to the Court of Appeal. She is registered without party preference.

Shasta County Superior Court

Kathryn Barton, of Siskiyou County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Shasta County Superior Court. Barton has served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Shasta County Public Defender’s Office since 2018. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Siskiyou County Public Defender’s Office from 2012 to 2015 and at the Solano County Public Defender’s Office from 1992 to 2012. Barton earned a Master of Social Welfare degree from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctor degree from the New College of California School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daryl Kennedy. She is a Democrat.

Benjamin Hanna, of Shasta County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Shasta County Superior Court. Hanna has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2023. He served in several roles at the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office from 2001 to 2023, including Chief Deputy District Attorney and Senior Deputy District Attorney. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Hanna fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cara Beatty. He is a Democrat.

Ventura County Superior Court

Marine Dermadzhyan, of Ventura County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Ventura County Superior Court. Dermadzhyan has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office since 2014. She has been an Adjunct Professor at the Ventura College of Law since 2022. Dermadzhyan served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office from 2013 to 2014 and served as a Law Clerk at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 2012 to 2013. She earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Smiley. Dermadzhyan is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $231,174.

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Judicial Diversity Summit 2021

The “Stronger Together: Judicial Diversity Summit 2021” will be held remotely on three Tuesday evenings on September 14, 21 and 28. This Judicial Diversity Summit is co-sponsored by the Judicial Council of California, California’s Lawyers Association and California Judges Association and has been held every five years since 2006 to assess the efforts to increase judicial diversity in California, and to make recommendations for future activities and initiatives to diversify the judiciary. The intended audience for the summit is judicial officers, attorneys and law students.

The Judicial Diversity Summit will include opening remarks by Hon. Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of California, remarks from Governor Newsom’s Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes and leaders throughout the judiciary and the legal community. The Summit will provide an overview of the current state of judicial diversity and cover a number of topics including how the branch and legal community can work together to improve Judicial Diversity; the role of new programs aimed at improving diversity, like the newly announced California Judicial Mentor Program; and how courts can increase diversity in the Court of Appeals through judicial assignments.

Summit Schedule

Summit day 1, 9/14: judicial diversity today.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

This program has concluded. Access to program materials and the recording are forthcoming – thank you for your patience.

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Opening Remarks:

• Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of California
• Hon. Thomas Delaney, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange and  President of the California Judges Association
• Emilio Varanini, Attorney, President of the California Lawyers Association

Level Set:  How are We Doing?  Hear a report from the co-chair and members of the Judicial Council of California’s Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness, Justice Luis Lavin, Judge Elizabeth Macias and Judge Yew, on the current state of judicial diversity, the work that has occurred since 2016 and why a diverse judiciary serves the public interest and improves public trust and confidence.

• Hon. Luis Lavin, Associate Justice of the Second Appellate District
• Hon. Elizabeth Macias, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange
• Hon. Erica Yew, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara

Judicial Diversity:  A Facilitated Discussion on the Definition of Judicial Diversity

• Michael Roosevelt, Senior Analyst, Judicial Council of California

Summit Day 2, 9/21: What Works

What is the Judicial Nominations Evaluation (JNE) Commission doing differently?  Learn what the JNE Commission is doing differently since the last Summit

• Stella Ngai, Attorney, Chair of the JNE Commission

California’s New Judicial Mentoring Program Learn more about the new Statewide Judicial Mentoring Program, comprised of an Appellate Court Mentor Program and a Trial Court Mentor Program.  The initiative aims to demystify the appellate and trial court application process and improve transparency and accessibility for all members of the legal community throughout California, fostering the development of a qualified and diverse judicial applicant pool.  

• Hon. Paul Bacigalupo, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles and Chair, California Judicial Mentor Program
• Hon. Erica Yew, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara and Co-chair, California Judicial Mentor Program Executive Committee

Side Bar Conversation: The “Perceived” Glass Ceiling This “Side Bar” conversation will focus specifically on the experiences and perspectives of women and LGBTQ judges or justices on the bench and share what the judicial branch is currently doing to further the goal of a more diverse and representative judiciary.

• Hon. Marsha Slough, Associate Justice of the Fourth Appellate District
• Hon. D. Zeke Zeidler, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Hon. Laura Walton, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles

Summit Day 3, 9/28: Judicial Diversity Tomorrow

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Judicial Track - Elevation and Courtroom Assignments This track for judicial officers will focus on a discussion about judicial assignments at the trial court level, as well as elevation to the Courts of Appeal. 

• Hon. Kevin Brazile, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Hon. Lorna Alksne, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
• Hon. Joshua Groban, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
• Hon. Teri Jackson, Presiding Justice of the First Appellate District, Division Five
• Hon. Ann Moorman, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Mendocino

Attorney Track:- Get Creative: Alternative Paths to the Bench  This track, open to all attendees, will discuss alternative pathways to the bench, including running for judicial election in an open seat, or becoming a Commissioner or an Administrative Law Judge.  

• Hon. Maria Evangelista, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco
• Hon. Jayne Lee, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin
• Hon. Terrie Roberts, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
• Hon. Kristin Rosi, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the California Department of Insurance

Keynote Address

• Luis Céspedes, Judicial Appointments Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

See More Details at the California Lawyers Association site

Spread the Word

This event only happens once every five years, so we want to make sure all interested parties are aware of the opportunity to participate.  Please help us spread the word about this impactful multi-day event by circulating the event flyer and/or directing people to this web page.  Thank you in advance for your support and assistance!  

Click here for the Summit Flyer

Presented by the California Lawyers Association, California Judges Association, and Judicial Council of California. Supported by the California Lawyers Foundation.

The summit and pre-events were planned with the assistance and collaboration of the following organizations:

Association of African American California Judicial Officers (AAACJO) California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Cal-APABA) California Asian Pacific American Judges Association (CAPAJA) California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), Judicial Section California ChangeLawyers California Judges Association California Indian Law Association (CILA) California La Raza Lawyers Association California Latino Judges Association (CLJA) California Lawyers Association (CLA) California Women Lawyers (CWL) Disability Rights of California Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), Orange County Judicial Council of California LGBT Judicial Officers of California (LGBT JOC) McGeorge School of Law SacLegal

Please contact [email protected] or  [email protected]  if you have any questions about this event. If you need an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact  [email protected]  or (916) 516-1721 by July 20, 2021.

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Primary Election 2024: San Diego County Superior Court Judge races

• What does a superior county judge do?

How are judicial races different from other races on the ballot?

Who are the candidates for superior court judge – office no. 19, who are the candidates for superior court judge – office no. 38, who are the candidates for superior court judge – office no. 41, who are the candidates for superior court judge – office no. 43.

• Find these races in your virtual ballot ↗

What does a Superior Court Judge do?

Superior Court judges preside over both felonies and misdemeanor cases, involving everything from traffic tickets to family law. There is no limit on the types of civil and criminal cases heard within the Superior Courts. They also have authority to hear cases appealed from courts of more limited jurisdiction.

While candidates for the state legislature or city councils usually have websites stating their platforms and strong party affiliations, judicial candidates are non-partisan and they're not supposed to be bound by political ideology. As a result, candidates often refrain from presenting strong stances on given issues, for the sake of keeping their judicial impartiality intact. Candidates for Superior Court Judge seats also do not engage in debates prior to the election.

To provide voters with information, the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) conducts judicial evaluations of the candidates. Each candidate is given one of the following ratings: lacking qualifications, qualified, well-qualified, exceptionally qualified or unable to evaluate. Factors for these designations include knowledge of the law, trial experience, judicial temperament and other metrics.

Rosy S. Meyerowitz

• Superior Court Commissioner, County of San Diego
• Campaign website

"Exceptionally Qualified"

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Kelly C. Mertsoc

Jodi Cleesattle

• Assistant Attorney General

Brian Erickson

• Deputy District Attorney, San Diego County

Koryn Sheppard

• Attorney/Adjunct Professor for Koryn Shephard

Valerie Summers

• Prosecutor/ Educator

🗳️ Vote-by-mail ballots begin to be sent to all active California registered voters starting Feb 3 . The last day to register to vote is Feb. 20 . (If voters miss this deadline they can still register and vote in person at any vote center location.) March 5 is the statewide primary election day but many vote centers are open prior to election day. Vote center and drop-off locations close at 8 p.m. on election day.

Find more guides like this one in KPBS' Voter Hub.

Committee for Judicial Ethics Opinions

Honorable Robert J. Trentacosta

Judge Trentacosta has served the judicial branch and the public as a member of the Judicial Branch Futures Commission and as vice chair of the Judicial Council Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee.  He has also chaired the revenue and expenditures subcommittee and served as a member of the trial court budget, efficiency, and statewide facilities working groups of the Judicial Council.

Judge Trentacosta has been actively involved with the California Center for Judicial Education and Research as an instructor and curriculum author at the Supervising Judges Institute and as the chair of the judicial branch leadership development committee.  He is an adjunct professor of law at California Western School of Law and has been member of the University of California San Diego medical ethics committee.

Judge Trentacosta received the Bernard E. Witkin, Esq., Judge of the Year Award in 2013 and the Hope Award for establishing San Diego Superior Court Behavioral Health Court in 2010.

Contact CJEO

A San Diego judge was disqualified from hearing racial bias motions. Now the motions department is gone.

Judge Howard Shore was moved to civil division after 25 years hearing criminal cases following series of challenges by San Diego County Public Defender’s Office

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The San Diego Superior Court’s downtown central division did away with its pretrial motions department last week in a change that appears linked to recent controversy surrounding a judge who was censured by a state judicial oversight body and disqualified from hearing certain racial bias cases.

The change was celebrated by defense attorneys who say their clients may now get fairer rulings than they received from Judge Howard Shore, who was previously assigned to hear most pretrial motions — such as those to dismiss cases or suppress evidence. Shore was also assigned motions made under the Racial Justice Act, a relatively new state law designed to ensure that race does not factor in the administration of justice.

Shore, who was assigned to the court’s criminal division since 1998, has been reassigned to the civil division, court spokesperson Emily Cox said.

Shore received a “severe” public censure in December from California’s Commission on Judicial Performance for skipping 155 days of work without permission . Earlier this year attorneys from the county Public Defender’s Office filed at least 19 disqualification challenges seeking to remove Shore from their cases, citing his censure, comments he had previously made in court and comments he allegedly made in a private meeting with two public defender chiefs.

Public defender chiefs allege censured San Diego judge ‘has lost judicial legitimacy’

As part of motion to disqualify Judge Howard Shore from a case, top Public Defender’s Office leaders declare Shore no longer trusted to hear public defender cases

Jan. 20, 2024

In March, Orange County Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham sided with the Public Defender’s Office in some of those challenges, disqualifying Shore from hearing several motions under the Racial Justice Act. Pham ruled there were reasonable questions about whether Shore can remain impartial given his prior “insensitive language and comments” in the courtroom. Pham — who heard the issue to avoid a conflict of interest within the San Diego court — wrote that Shore’s censure and the comments he made privately to the public defender chiefs did not factor into her ruling.

Cox, the court spokesperson, did not directly answer questions about whether last week’s change to pretrial motion assignments was related to the recent controversies surrounding Shore. Instead, she said the court rotates assignments regularly and made last week’s change to bring the downtown central division in line with the way pretrial motions are assigned at its branches in East County, North County and the South Bay.

But those in the Public Defender’s Office celebrated and took credit for the change.

“This is great news and a direct result of the efforts of every lawyer in this office,” Chief Deputy Public Defender Jo Super wrote in an email to her office announcing the court’s decision last month.

Chief Public Defender Paul Rodriguez did not respond to a request for comment.

“It’s a big change,” said private defense attorney Danielle Iredale, who attributed the move by the court to the efforts of the Public Defender’s Office to challenge Shore in recent months. “Those for-cause challenges being granted changed the landscape.”

If the court had not made the change that it did, it’s likely the Public Defender’s Office would have continued seeking to disqualify Shore. And having successfully disqualified the judge from several cases already, the Public Defender’s Office had the playbook it needed to continue filing successful challenges.

“It could have created an administrative nightmare,” Iredale said last week.

District Attorney Summer Stephan’s office did not comment on the reasons behind getting rid of the pretrial motions department. “The decision made by the Superior Court was within their purview of authority and we will adjust to accommodate this change,” Tanya Sierra, a spokesperson for the office, said in a statement.

Officially, the pretrial motions department at the downtown Central Courthouse did not have a name, according to Cox. But defense attorneys commonly referred to it as the “law and motions” department and said Shore had been the lone judge in that department since around 2017 when the new Central Courthouse first opened.

Iredale, the private defense attorney, explained the previous flow of a typical felony criminal case like this: when a defendant was first arraigned, his or her case was assigned to one of three felony readiness judges. Many routine hearings and procedural matters would be heard in front of that assigned judge, while preliminary hearings and trials ended up assigned to different judges. But while the case was progressing toward trial, the need would sometimes arise to file certain pretrial motions. Those would end up with Shore.

“Previously, in the Central Division, criminal motions such as Racial Justice Act motions, motions to dismiss, motions to suppress, and other general pretrial motions that would not otherwise be assigned to the trial judge, were heard in one department,” Cox told the Union-Tribune.

Attorneys from the Public Defender’s Office viewed Shore as unfavorable to their clients when deciding on those matters. One of the successful motions to disqualify the judge alleged he had a history of making racist or racially insensitive comments in his courtroom in various cases over the past several years. The motion alleged Shore had argued that Black people commit more crimes than White people and had repeatedly downplayed systemic racism in the justice system, even though the state Legislature cited such racism in passing the Racial Justice Act in 2020.

San Diego judge disqualified by Orange County judge from hearing some racial bias cases

One of the Orange County judge’s rulings stemmed from remarks San Diego Judge Howard Shore made in previous hearings, such as using the n-word without prompting as part of a thought experiment

April 4, 2024

“From his comments, a person aware of the facts could reasonably believe that Judge Shore believes certain racial or ethnic groups commit more crimes than others,” Pham, the No. 2 judge in Orange County, wrote in one of her orders disqualifying Shore.

Additionally, California’s 4th District Court of Appeal ruled in February that Shore had not taken into account implicit bias during a Racial Justice Act hearing for a driver who alleged San Diego police improperly pulled him over and arrested him. The three-judge appellate panel found that Shore “fail(ed) to address the abundant evidence suggesting that the traffic stop may have been the product of unintended racial bias.”

Typically in criminal proceedings, defendants have little recourse over who will hear their case. But California court rules provide both the defense and the prosecution with what amounts to one free veto of a judge during the pendency of a case. Iredale said attorneys almost always hold onto that challenge for trial and sentencing.

“You always want to save it,” Iredale said. She added that using such a challenge before trial can be tempting when attorneys have a strong argument and need to ensure their defendant “can get a fair shake,” but doing so amounts to putting all eggs in one basket. “You might use it when you have an extremely strong motion, or for preliminary hearing — but the overwhelming majority of the time, you want to save it.”

That meant the attorneys in the Public Defender’s Office had to use a different tactic to try to disqualify Shore from their cases while still saving their veto for trial. Instead, they used a different but related section of the court rules to argue that Shore could not be impartial based on his previous remarks.

The deputy public defenders had to show the Orange County judge that Shore should be disqualified for cause, Iredale said. “It’s extraordinary to get that for-cause disqualification and retain that (veto),” she said.

With Shore transferred to the civil division and his pretrial motions department gone, the court’s downtown central division will now run like the east, south and north branches. Cox, the court spokesperson, said that in those branches, the supervising judge assigns motions “to various criminal departments depending on the needs of the court and availability of judges, and not specifically to one judge or one department.”

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Judicial Branch of California

Judicial profiles.

Etezadi, Susan Irene   |   Fineman, Nancy L.   |   Greenberg, Susan L.  |   Nicole, S. Healy

Susan Irene Etezadi

Superior Court Judge

University of San Diego School of Law, J.D. 1983 University of California, Davis, B.A. 1980

Appointment Date:

September 8, 2006

Current Assignment:

Judge, Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, since September 8, 2006 Presiding Juvenile Court Judge: January 2019-Present

Previous Judicial Assignments:

Presiding Judge, January 2017-December 2018 Assistant Presiding Judge, January 2015-2016 Civil Law and Motion Judge, July 2015-January 2016 Presiding Juvenile Court Judge, 2010-2014 Presiding Criminal Court Judge, 2009-2010 Family Court Judge, 2008-2009 General Criminal Court Judge, Misdemeanors, Pre-trials, Preliminary Hearings, 2006-2007

Professional Work History:

Deputy District Attorney, San Mateo County, December 1984- September 7, 2006 Graduate Legal Attorney, Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, January-December 1984

Judicial Volunteer Activities:

CASA, San Mateo County (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Quarterly Volunteer Instructor for Legal Training in the area of Dependency and Juvenile Justice. (2019-present) CASA, San Mateo County (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Quarterly Swearing-In of New CASAS (2019-present) Member, Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Commission (2010-2014) (2019-present) Presenter for the San Mateo County Bar Association, MCLE, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015 Judicial Facilitator for the 2011 Supervising Judges Institute Judicial Volunteer for High School Mock Trials (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Judicial Volunteer for Citizens' School (Mock Trial for Grade School Students) (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Judicial Volunteer for East Palo Alto Youth Court (2010, 2011)

Previous Legal Teaching:

Faculty Member-San Francisco Law School 2012-2013-Criminal Procedure Course Faculty Member, College of San Mateo, 2002-2008, Fall 2012 Principles and Procedures of the Criminal Justice System Laws of Evidence Instructor, National College of District Attorneys, Advocacy Center, University of South Carolina, Trial Advocacy Courses, 1990, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 Instructor, California District Attorneys Association, 1989-2003 Instructor for the San Mateo County Basic Dispatcher Academy, 2001, 2002, 2003 Instructor for the College of San Mateo Police Reserve Academy, 1999-2003 Instructor for the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium, 1995, 1997, 2002 Instructor for the San Mateo County Police Agencies on Domestic Violence Law and Investigations, 1987-1988

Previous Volunteer Activities:

San Mateo Legal Aid Society, Board Member (2004-2006) California Women Lawyers, Board Member (2003-2005) Member of the San Mateo County Bar Association, Women Lawyers' Section (2003-2006)

Committee/Advisor Activities:

Insurance Fraud Technical Advisor, California District Attorneys Association 2002- 2003 California District Attorneys Association, Insurance Fraud Committee, 2001-2003 California District Attorneys Association, Insurance Fraud, Training sub-Committee, 2001-2003 California District Attorneys Association, Homicide-Special Circumstance Committee, 1997-2001

Nancy L. Fineman

 Superior Court Judge

A.B. in political science from University of California, Berkeley J.D. from University of California, Berkeley Law

November 2, 2017

Central Supervising Judge, Civil Direct Calendar Judge

Previous Assignments:

Preliminary Hearing Judge, Trial Judge, Law and Motion

Background & Professional Associations:

Background & Professional Associations: Judge Fineman started her legal career at Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, an insurance defense firm. She then spent the rest of her legal career at the law firm now known as Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP. She is a frequent lecturer on legal matters. She serves on the Judicial Council Civil Law Curriculum Committee and the 2019 and 2020 Cow County Judge Institute Workgroup. She served as a trustee of the California State Bar, a member of the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Committee, a member of the San Mateo County Bar Association Board of Directors, The President and a member of the San Mateo County Women Lawyers' Educational Foundation as well as other state and local bar positions. She was also active in many community organizations and her sons' schools. She is a past President and current board member of the Alumni Association for Berkeley Law.

Susan L. Greenberg

Judge of the superior court.

September 19, 2014 to present

Commissioner of the Superior Court

January 31, 2000 to September 18, 2014

Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 1984 Claremont Men's (McKenna) College, B.A., 1981

California Bar Admission:

Current assignments:.

Civil, Case Management & ADR Supervising Judge Trial Judge Civil Direct Calendar Judge

Probate Judge - October 2022 to January 2023 Criminal Presiding Judge - January 2020 to December 2021 General Trial Judge - July 2019 to December 2019, January 2022 to October 2022, and January 2023 to March 2023 Law and Motion Judge - January 2018 to June 2019 Supervising Family Law Judge - June 29, 2017 to December 2019 Family Court Judge - September 19, 2014 to December 2017

Commissioner and Judge Pro Tem:

Criminal Court (Parole Revocation Hearings), Family Court, Small Claims Court, Traffic Court 2013 to September 18, 2014 Family Court 2012 to 2013 Criminal Court (Misdemeanor Arraignments, Pre-Trials, Motions, Preliminary Hearings), Drug Court, Family Court, Small Claims Court, Traffic Court, Treatment Court, Unlawful Detainer Court, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act Court, Assignments from Master Calendar 2000 to 2012

Professional Work History: Law Offices of Susan L. Greenberg, Sole Practitioner, 1991 to 2000 Law Offices of Philip H. Schecter, Associate Attorney, 1987 to 1991 San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney, 1984 to 1987

Present Activities:

KKiwanis International, Past Lt. Governor, Past Club President Notre Dame High School, Board Member

Previous Activities:

California Court Commissioners Association, Member - Board of Directors San Mateo County Bar Association, Member - Board of Directors and Secretary, Member - Women Lawyers Section Judge Pro Tem, San Mateo County, Municipal Court and Superior Court Faculty Member, Golden Gate University Commencement Speaker, Golden Gate University Attorney Coach, Mock Trial High School Teams, Westmoor and Sequoia High Schools Service League of San Mateo County, Past President and Member, Board of Directors

Nicole S. Healy

A.B./B.S., University of California, Davis J.D., University of California, Los Angeles

July 9, 2021

Civil Direct Calendar Judge

Trial Judge, Preliminary Hearing Judge

Background & Professional Associations :

Partner, Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley, Redwood City, California, 2013-2021 Of Counsel/Associate, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, 1998-2012 Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, 1992-1998 Attorney General’s Honors Program, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, 1991-1992

Volunteer Attorney, Mediation and ENE Panels, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California Judge Pro Tem, Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo Judge Pro Tem, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara Member, Board of Directors, San Mateo County Bar Association Officer and Member, Board of Directors, Women Lawyers’ Section, San Mateo County Bar Association Co-Chair, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, ABA Section of International Law Chair, Vice-chair and Steering Committee Member, Anti-Corruption Committee, ABA Section of International Law

Judge Healy was the initial author of the Anti-Money Laundering Deskbook: A Practical Guide to Law and Compliance, published by PLI Press, and has authored articles and spoken frequently on topics including money laundering, corruption, and white-collar crime.   

Judge Healy has mentored high school students and serves as a volunteer judge of the San Mateo County High School Mock Trial Competition.  

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No immediate decision on whether sheriff will be compelled to testify in San Diego jails suit

S AN DIEGO — Sheriff Kelly Martinez is not avoiding a proposed deposition in the federal lawsuit challenging her administration of San Diego County jails, a lawyer defending the Sheriff's Department in the class-action case said Wednesday.

Rather, it was the county's outside lawyer who opposed the idea of Martinez answering questions under oath, the lawyer said.

"The sheriff did not refuse to appear," attorney Elizabeth Pappy told U.S. Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner during a nearly hourlong hearing to discuss whether Martinez should be compelled to sit for a deposition. "You can blame that on me. I made that decision."

The judge did not issue a ruling Wednesday.

After listening to arguments from Pappy and the attorney representing people in San Diego County jails, Leshner said he would take the matter under submission. The decision could be published in days, or weeks.

Attorney Gay Grunfeld sought the judicial order in a filing last month, saying she and her colleagues had basic questions that other Sheriff's Department leaders or staff were unable to answer fully.

"Only the sheriff knows how the department will set the priorities over the next year and the next five years to change the situation in the jails — or not," Grunfeld said at the hearing. "Only she can answer our questions about what reform efforts are being made, if any."

But Pappy said there is nothing Martinez can add that plaintiffs' lawyers have not already learned or asked subordinates.

"The notion that the sheriff is going to provide this deep level of knowledge is untrue," Pappy said. "She has no personal knowledge of anything … She delegates responsibilities to not just one level of people but multiple levels."

Grunfeld is one of a handful of civil-rights lawyers suing San Diego County over how the Sheriff's Department manages its seven-facility jail system, which has one of the highest mortality rates in the state.

The lawsuit seeks to force the sheriff to improve facilities and operations within the jails to make sure that people in custody are provided constitutionally required care, such as food, healthcare and medical equipment for disabled people when needed.

The county has had five in-custody deaths so far this year and more than 200 over the past 20 years. It also has paid tens of millions of dollars to the families of people who died or were injured in jail over the past five-plus years.

Plaintiffs also seek to depose Dr. Peter Freedland of Correctional Healthcare Partners, the county's latest contracted medical provider .

That interview is likely to be scheduled sometime after June 1, when the agreement now being negotiated between San Diego County and Freedland's company is expected to take effect, Pappy said at the hearing.

Legal discovery — the process of both parties in a lawsuit exchanging testimony and documents ahead of trial — is moving forward in the case.

A trial is not likely to be held before next year.

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