SACRAMENTO :- Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of three Court of Appeal Justices: Matthew Scherb as Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight, Judge Corey Lee as Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, and Judge Arlan Harrell as Associate Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

The Governor also announced his appointment of 18 Superior Court Judges: three in Alameda County; one in Butte County; one in Kings County; five in Los Angeles County; one in San Bernardino County; one in San Diego County; one in San Luis Obispo County; one in San Mateo County; three in Santa Clara County; and one in Stanislaus County.

Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight

Matthew Scherb, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 8. Scherb has been a Chambers Attorney at the Supreme Court of California since 2021. He served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2017 to 2021. Scherb was an Appellate Court Attorney from 2011 to 2017. He was an Associate at Winston & Strawn LLP from 2005 to 2011. Scherb served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. Scherb received a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Elizabeth A. Grimes. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Scherb is registered as no party preference.

Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two

Corey Lee, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two. Lee has served in the San Bernardino County Superior Court as a Judge since 2015. She served as a Deputy Chief Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2015. Lee was a Deputy District Attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2008. She served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office from 2004 to 2007. Lee served as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review from 2003 to 2004. Lee received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Marsha G. Slough. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez. Lee is a Democrat.

Fifth District Court of Appeal

Arlan L. Harrell, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Harrell has served as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2006. He served as a Court Commissioner for the Fresno County Superior Court from 2003-2006. Harrell served as a Deputy District Attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1994-2003. He was an Associate at Lang, Richert & Patch from 1992 to 1994. Harrell received a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Davis King Hall School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Charles S. Poochigian. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Brad Hill. Harrell is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $280,052.

Alameda County Superior Court

Diane Meier, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Meier has served 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. She worked as a Legal Research Attorney in the San Mateo County Superior Court in 2009. Meier received a Juris Doctor degree from the 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. Meier is a Democrat.

Julie Wilensky, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Wilensky has served as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office since 2022. She was a Senior Staff Attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights from 2018 to 2022. Wilensky served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office from 2017 to 2018. She was a Senior Counsel at Disability Rights California from 2016 to 2017. She worked as a Director at the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (now Disability Law United) from 2015 to 2016. Wilensky was a Shareholder at Lewis, Feinberg, Lee & Jackson, P.C. in 2015, where she was also an Associate from 2010 to 2015. Wilensky served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable John T. Noonan, Jr. at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2009 to 2010 and for the Honorable Nicholas G. Garaufis at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York from 2008 to 2009. She was a Thomas Emerson Fellow at David Rosen & Associates from 2007 to 2008. Wilensky received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Noel Wise to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Wilensky is a Democrat.

Cara Sandberg, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Sandberg has served as a Deputy County Counsel for the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office since 2023. Sandberg was Of Counsel at Conrad Metlitzky Kane LLP from 2022 to 2023. She worked as a Chambers Attorney at the California Supreme Court from 2018 to 2022. She held multiple positions in the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office, including Deputy County Counsel from 2016 to 2018 and Fellow from 2015 to 2016. Sandberg served as a Law Clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California from 2013 to 2015. She served as a Law Clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 2012 to 2013. Sandberg received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ursula Jones Dickson. Sandberg is a Democrat.

Butte County Superior Court

Ruby Neumann, of Glenn County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Butte County Superior Court. Neumann has served as a Court Commissioner in the Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Plumas County Superior Courts since 2023. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office from 2014 to 2023. Neumann was an Associate at the Law Offices of Christian Schank & Associates from 2013 to 2014. Neumann received a Juris Doctor degree from Lincoln Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael P. Candela. Neumann is registered as no party preference.

Kings County Superior Court

Jim Trevino, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Kings County Superior Court. Trevino has been the Owner of the Law Office of Jim A. Trevino since 2008. He was an Associate at Grossman Law Offices from 2007 to 2008. Trevino worked as an Associate at Parker, Kern, Nard & Wenzel from 2006 to 2007. He was an Associate at the Law Office of Peter Singh from 2005 to 2006. Trevino received a Juris Doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Randy L. Edwards. Trevino is a Democrat.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Veronica Ramos, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ramos has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 2008. Ramos was an Interim Justice Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis from 2019 to 2020. She was a Temporary Contract Attorney at Jones Day in 2008. Ramos received 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 Richard Bloom. Ramos is a Democrat.

Renee Williams, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Williams has served as an Assistant City Attorney at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office since 2021. She held multiple positions from 2010 to 2021 at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office, including Trial Attorney, Team Leader, Head Deputy, and Acting Division Chief of Central Operations. Williams was an Adjunct Professor at ITT Technical Institute from 2009 to 2013. She was a Sole Practitioner at the Law Offices of Renee L. Williams from 2008 to 2010. Williams worked as an Associate at Bryan Cave LLP from 2006 to 2008. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2006. Williams was an Associate at Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstrief LLP from 2003 to 2004 and an Associate at Mendes & Mount LLP from 2001 to 2003. Williams received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dorothy L. Shubin. Williams is a Democrat.

Melinda Porter, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Porter has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2025. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2025. She was an Adjunct Professor at the Westwood College South Bay Campus from 2010 to 2011. Porter worked as a judicial assistant at the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2001 to 2007. Porter received a Juris Doctor degree from the Western State University College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Terry L. Smerling. Porter is registered as a Democrat.

Amanda Park, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Park has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2024. She worked as an attorney at the Department of Child Support Services from 1997 to 2024. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Kern County District Attorney’s Office from 1996 to 1997. Park received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Douglas Stern. Park is a Democrat.

Osman Abbasi, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Abbasi has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office since 2025 and from 2021 to 2022. He served as an Inspector at the Los Angeles County Office of the Inspector General from 2022 to 2025. Abbasi served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 2015 to 2021. He was an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office from 2010 to 2014. Abbasi received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anthony A. Trendacosta. Abbasi is a Democrat.

San Bernardino County Superior Court

Maggie Yang, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Yang has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office since 2007. Yang received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John M. Pacheco. Yang is a Democrat.

San Diego County Superior Court

Todd Stevens, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Stevens has worked at Keeney Waite & Stevens since 1989, first as an Associate and then Managing Partner. He worked as a Law Clerk at Higgs Fletcher & Mack from 1986 to 1989. Stevens received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John B. Scherling. Stevens is a Democrat.

San Luis Obispo County Superior Court

Kenneth McDaniel, of San Luis Obispo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo Superior Court. McDaniel has served as a Commissioner at the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court since 2022. He was a Sole Practitioner at the Law Office of Kenneth R. McDaniel from 2021 to 2022 and from 2013 to 2019. McDaniel worked as an Associate at the Law Office of Stephen D. Hamilton from 2019 to 2021. He worked as an attorney at the San Luis Obispo County Juvenile Dependency Panel from 2017 to 2019 and worked as an Associate at the Law Offices of William D. Ausman from 2011 to 2013. McDaniel received a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gayle Peron. McDaniel is a Democrat.

San Mateo County Superior Court

Michael Mau, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Mau has served as a Commissioner at the San Mateo County Superior Court since 2022. Mau worked as a Managing Attorney and Owner at the Law Offices of Michael L. Mau from 1999 to 2022 and was a Senior Attorney at McLemore, Collins & Toschi from 1988 to 1999. Mau worked as an Associate at Simpson, Aherne & Garrity from 1995 to 1998. He worked as an Independent Contract Attorney at the Law Office of J. Hector Moreno, Sr. from 1993 to 1994. Mau received a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jonathan E. Karesh. Mau is registered with no party preference.

Santa Clara County Superior Court

Kemi Mustapha, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Mustapha has worked as a Managing Attorney at the Bay Area Legal Aid since 2024, where she has held several positions since 2012, including Supervising Attorney, Senior Attorney, Staff Attorney, and Fellow. She served as an Employee Relations Representative at the San Francisco Department of Human Resources from 2011 to 2012. Mustapha received a Juris Doctor degree from the Washington University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen A. Folan. Mustapha is a Democrat.

Sarah Cook, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Cook has served as the Director of Policy and Legal Services at Dependency Advocacy Center since 2023, where she has held multiple positions, including Corridor Managing Attorney from 2017 to 2023 and Staff Attorney from 2013 to 2017. Cook received a Juris Doctor degree from Washington University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge L. Michael Clark. Cook is a Democrat.

Mark Flanagan, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Flanagan worked as a Partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr from 2006 to 2025. He worked as a Lecturer at University of California, Berkeley School of Law from 2017 to 2019. He worked as a Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati from 1998 to 2006 and as a Partner at Slenkovich & Flanagan from 1995 to 1998. He served as Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California from 1991 to 1995. Flanagan worked as an Associate at Thelen Marrin Johnson & Bridges from 1987 to 1991. Flanagan received a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Arthur Bocanegra. Flanagan is a Democrat.

Stanislaus County Superior Court

Sarah Birmingham, of Stanislaus County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Birmingham has been the Owner of Sarah Birmingham Law since 2020 where she was also a Solo Practitioner. She worked as an Attorney at Gianelli & Associates from 2013 to 2020. Birmingham worked as an Associate at Curtis Legal Group from 2004 to 2012. She worked as a Staff Attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance from 2002 to 2004. Birmingham received a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Ann Q. Ameral. Birmingham is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $244,727.