Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of 15 Superior Court Judges across various counties in California. The appointments include one judge in Contra Costa County, two in Los Angeles County, one each in Marin, Napa, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, and three judges in San Diego County.

In Contra Costa County Superior Court, Michael Nieto has been appointed. Nieto has served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office since 2022 and has been a Deputy District Attorney there since 1997. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Nieto fills the vacancy created by Judge Clare Maier's retirement.

For Los Angeles County Superior Court, Doreen Boxer and Steven Ipson have been appointed. Boxer has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015 and previously held various legal positions including San Bernardino County Public Defender. She fills the vacancy left by Justice Helen Zukin's elevation to the Court of Appeal. Ipson has also served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2016 and was a Deputy District Attorney from 1994 to 2016. He fills the vacancy created by Judge John Ing's retirement.

James Schurz will serve as a Judge in Marin County Superior Court. Schurz has been with Morrison Foerster LLP since 1990 and fills the vacancy created by Judge Verna Adams' retirement.

Robert Stamps is appointed to Napa County Superior Court after serving as a Commissioner there since 2021. He fills the vacancy left by Judge Victoria D. Wood's retirement.

Sharunne Lavonne Foster will serve in Riverside County Superior Court after being a Commissioner there since earlier this year. She replaces Judge Mark E. Johnson following his retirement.

In Sacramento County Superior Court, Robert Artuz is appointed after serving as a Commissioner there since last year. Artuz takes over from retired Judge George P. Marlette.

San Diego County sees three new appointments: Kelly Mertsoc and Rosy Meyerowitz are both interim appointees who were elected to begin their terms in January 2025 but can now assume their roles immediately due to retirements of Judges Robert P. Dahlquist and Patricia Garcia respectively; Kristopher Young joins them following his tenure at California Department of Justice filling Judge Gary M. Bubis' position post-retirement.

Adrienne Leight Rogers will serve on San Francisco County Superior Court replacing retired Judge Loretta M. Giorgi after her time as Managing Attorney at First District Court of Appeal.

San Joaquin County welcomes Katy Jacot for an interim term succeeding retired Judge Richard Vlavianos while Gurjit Singh Srai takes over from retired Judge Robin C Appel having practiced law independently since 2010.

Sarah Burdick is set for an interim role on San Mateo’s bench taking over from retired Judge Robert Foiles after serving recently as Commissioner there.

Finally Cynthia Chen steps into Santa Clara’s court filling retired Kenneth P Barnum’s spot bringing experience from Dependency Advocacy Center among other roles.

The compensation for each judicial position is $238,479 annually.