Governor Newsom announces Judicial Appointments 11.4.2026

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced his appointment of twenty-three Superior Court Judges: one in Alameda County, one in Fresno County, five in Los Angeles County, one in Mendocino County, one in Merced County, one in Orange County, four in Sacramento County, one in San Bernardino County, one in San Diego County, one in San Joaquin County, one in San Mateo County, one in Santa Clara County, one in Stanislaus County, one in Ventura County, one interim appointment in Los Angeles County, and one interim appointment in Sacramento County.

Alameda County Superior Court

 

Jesse Basbaum, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Basbaum has worked as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice since 2022. He served as an Associate Deputy Public Defender at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office from 2017 to 2022 and as a Post-Bar Law Clerk from 2016 to 2017. Basbaum worked as an Associate at Keker & Van Nest from 2013 to 2016 and from 2011 to 2012. He served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2012 to 2013 and at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2010 to 2011. Basbaum received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stuart L. Hing. Basbaum is a Democrat.

Fresno County Superior Court

 

David Olmos, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court. Olmos has served as a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office since 2021, where he also served as a Deputy District Attorney from 2014 to 2021 and as a Law Clerk in 2014. Olmos received a Juris Doctor degree from San Joaquin College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Amy Guerra to the Court of Appeal. Olmos is a Democrat.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

 

Noelle Brown Adams, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Brown Adams has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office since 2013. She worked as an Entertainment Litigator at Cindy Johnson Law Group in 2013. Brown Adams worked as an Attorney at Johnson & Johnson from 2011 to 2012. She worked as a Law Clerk at Cheong, Denove, Rowell & Bennett in 2010. Brown Adams received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Wendy L. Wilcox. Brown Adams is a Democrat.

 

 

Edward Han, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Han has served as a Deputy City Attorney at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office since 2026. He has also served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve since 2018. Han worked as a Senior Attorney at Theodora Oringher from 2025 to 2026. He was a Lecturer in Law at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law from 2022 to 2025.  Han served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2015 to 2022. He served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2014 to 2015. Han worked as an Associate at Jones Day from 2012 to 2014. He received a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Spurgeon E. Smith. Han is a Democrat.

 

 

Kristen Williams, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Williams has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2025. Williams served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2025. Williams received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David S. Cunningham. Williams is a Democrat.

 

 

Rebecca Goodrich, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Goodrich has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 2015. She has also worked as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California since 2024. Goodrich served as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office from 2013 to 2015. She served as a Volunteer Deputy City Attorney at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2012 to 2013. She received a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Stephen Goorvitch to the Court of Appeal. Goodrich is a Democrat.

 

 

Arpa Stepanian, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Stepanian has worked as a Partner at Weiss and Stepanian since 2015. He was the Owner of The Stepanian Law Firm from 2012 to 2015. Stepanian was a Partner at Stepanian and Donath from 2010 to 2012. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Riverside County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2010. Stepanian worked as a Staff Attorney at the Inland Counties Legal Services from 2004 to 2006. He worked as a sole practitioner from 2003 to 2004. Stepanian worked as a Hearing Representative at the Law Offices of Dennis Hershewe from 2002 to 2003. Stepanian received a Juris Doctor degree from San Fernando Valley College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maurice Leiter. Stepanian is registered without party preference.

Mendocino County Superior Court

 

 

Joseph Stogner, of Sonoma County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Mendocino County Superior Court. Stogner has worked as a Sole Practitioner at the Law Office of Joseph Stogner since 1994. He has worked as a Professor of Law at Empire College of Law in Santa Rosa since 1995. Stogner worked as an Associate at O’Brien, Watters, Davis & Piasta from 1990 to 1994. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office from 1986 to 1990. Stogner worked as an Associate at the Law Office of L. Stephen Turner from 1985 to 1986. Stogner received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Clayton Brennan. Stogner is a Democrat. 

Merced County Superior Court

 

 

Brenda Pannell-Nash, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. She has been a Sole Practitioner at the Law Offices of Brenda J. Pannell since 2009. Pannell-Nash worked as an Associate at multiple firms including Harold G. Becks & Associates from 2000 to 2009, at the Law Office of Charles T. Mathews from 1999 to 2000, and at Chapin, Fleming, McNitt, Shea & Carter from 1996 to 1999. Pannell-Nash received a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Maryland King Carey School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Carol K. Ash. Pannell-Nash is registered without party preference.

Orange County Superior Court

 

 

Eddie Flores, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Flores has worked as a Principal at Flores Law Group since 2006. He served as a Senior Deputy District Attorney at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 2006. Flores worked as an Associate at Snell & Wilmer from 1991 to 1994. Flores received a Juris Doctor Degree from University of Arizona, College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez to the Court of Appeal. Flores is a Democrat. 

Sacramento County Superior Court

 

 

Michele Beckwith, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Beckwith has served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2025. She served in various roles at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including as a First Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2022 to 2025, as the Criminal Division Chief from 2019 to 2022, as an Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2016 to 2019, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2010 to 2016. Beckwith served as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2008 to 2010 and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California from 2006 to 2008. Beckwith worked as an Associate at Downey Brand from 2005 to 2006. She worked as an Associate at Baker Hostetler from 2003 to 2004. Beckwith received a Juris Doctor Degree from the Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Lauri Damrell to the Court of Appeal. Beckwith is a Democrat.

 

 

Jasmine Turner-Bond, of Placer County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Turner-Bond has served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2019. Turner-Bond served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary at the Office of Governor Jerry Brown from 2018 to 2019. She served as a Hearing Officer and Staff Attorney at the California Victim Compensation Board from 2014 to 2018. Turner-Bond worked as a panel attorney at the Appellate Defender’s Inc. from 2013 to 2017. Turner-Bond received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Donald J. Currier. Turner-Bond is a Democrat.

 

 

Matthew Lee, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Lee has served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2024. He served as General Counsel for the California Department of Cannabis Control from 2021 to 2024. Lee served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2021. He served as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office from 2016 to 2019. Lee served as a Law Clerk in various courts, including the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California from 2015 to 2016 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2013 to 2015. Lee received a Juris Doctor Degree from Yale Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maryanne G. Gillard. Lee is a Democrat.

 

 

Alicia Hartley, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Hartley has served as a Commissioner at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2022. She served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2022. Hartley received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Delbert Oros. Hartley is a Democrat.

San Bernardino County Superior Court

 

 

Laurel Hoehn, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. She has served as Commissioner at the San Bernardino County Superior Court since 2024. Hoehn served in several roles at the San Bernardino County Counsel’s Office including as Principal Assistant County Counsel in 2024, as Supervising Deputy County Counsel from 2023 to 2024, and as Deputy County Counsel from 2019 to 2023. She worked as a Partner at Grossberg & Hoehn from 2016 to 2019. Hoehn worked as an associate at various firms including at Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse from 2010 to 2016, at David H. Ricks & Associates from 2009 to 2010, at Klute & Newton in 2009, and at the Law Office of Jeffery D. Nadelman from 2004 to 2008. Hoehn received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of La Verne School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gilbert G. Ochoa. Hoehn is a Democrat

San Diego County Superior Court

 

 

Maria Diaz, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Diaz has worked as a Managing Attorney at the Children’s Legal Services of San Diego since 2018. She worked as an Associate at Mesnik Law Group from 2016 to 2018. Diaz was the Owner of the Law Office of Maria P. Diaz from 2015 to 2016. She worked as a Staff Attorney at the Dependency Law Group of San Diego from 2010 to 2015. Diaz received a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Marsha Amin to the Court of Appeal. Diaz is a Democrat.

San Joaquin County Superior Court

 

 

Kerry Krueger, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Krueger has served as a Commissioner at the San Joaquin County Superior Court since 2026. She worked as an Attorney and was a Shareholder at Kroloff, Belcher, Smart, Perry & Christopherson from 2006 to 2026. Krueger received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lauren P. Thomasson. Krueger is a Democrat.

San Mateo County Superior Court

 

 

Timothy Elliott, of San Mateo, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Elliott has served as a Commissioner at the San Mateo County Superior Court since 2024. He worked as a Contract Attorney for Google Fiber through Axiom Global Inc. from 2019 to 2024. Elliott worked as a Contract Arbitrator at FairClaims from 2016 to 2019. He worked as an In-House Attorney at Gap Inc. from 2007 to 2016. Elliott worked as an Associate at Peckar & Abramson, P.C. in 2007. He worked as an Associate at Watt Tieder Hoffar & Fitzgerald from 2000 to 2006. Elliott received a Juris Doctor Degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Donald J. Ayoob. Elliott is a Democrat. 

Santa Clara County Superior Court

 

 

Thomas Sprankling, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Sprankling has worked as a Partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr since 2022 and has held multiple other roles at the firm, including Counsel from 2019 to 2021, Senior Associate from 2016 to 2018, and Associate from 2013 to 2015. He worked as a Law Clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court from 2016 to 2017 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2012 to 2013. Sprankling received a Juris Doctor Degree from Columbia Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas E. Kuhnle. Sprankling is a Democrat.

Stanislaus County Superior Court

 

 

Byron Beebe, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Beebe has served as a Lead Appellate Court Attorney at the Fifth District Court of Appeal since 2016. He worked as an Associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges from 2008 to 2016. Beebe served as a Law Clerk at various courts, including at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2007 to 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada from 2005 to 2007, and the Third Judicial District Court of Nevada from 2004 to 2005. Beebe received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Sonny S. Sandhu to the Court of Appeal. Beebe is registered without party preference.

Ventura County Superior Court 

 

 

Philip Bonoli, of Ventura County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Ventura County Superior Court. Bonoli has served as a Commissioner at the Ventura County Superior Court since 2026. Bonoli worked as Co-Managing Partner at BG Law from 2017 to 2026. He worked as a Shareholder at LeClairRyan from 2008 to 2017. Bonoli worked as a Senior Associate at Soltman, Levitt & Flaherty from 2004 to 2008. He worked as an Associate at Wright, Robinson, Osthimer & Tatum from 1999 to 2004. Bonoli worked as an Associate at Hogan, Baynes & Haworth from 1997 to 1999. Bonoli received a Juris Doctor degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kevin G. DeNoce. Bonoli is registered without party preference.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

 

 

Ann Maurer, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Maurer has served as the Chief Assistant City Attorney at the Glendale City Attorney’s Office since 2002. She worked as an Associate at Richards, Watson & Gershon from 2000 to 2002. Maurer worked as an Associate at Franscell, Strickland, Roberts & Lawrance from 1996 to 2000. Maurer received a Juris Doctor Degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Goul. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2027. Maurer is a Democrat.

Sacramento County Superior Court

 

 

Heath Langle, of Placer County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Langle has served as a Commissioner at the Sacramento Superior Court since 2023. He worked as an Attorney at Bold, Polisner, Maddow, Nelson, & Judson from 2021 to 2023. He also worked as an Attorney at Hackard Law from 2020 to 2021. Langle worked as a Sole Practitioner at the Law Office of Heath T. Langle from 2014 to 2020. He worked as an Associate at various firms including at Wagner, Kirkman, Blaine, Klomparens, and Youmans from 2013 to 2014, at La Follette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler, & Ames from 2011 to 2012, and at Porter Scott from 2008 to 2010. He was the Owner at the Law Office of Heath T. Langlel from 2006 to 2008. Langle fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James McFetridge. The Governor’s appointment allows him to immediately assume the position he was otherwise elected to begin in January 2027. Langle is a Democrat.

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

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