SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom Nov. 13, announced the appointment of 19 California superior court judges, which include one in Butte County, 10 in Los Angeles County, one in Orange County, two in Riverside County, two in San Bernardino County, two in San Francisco County and one in Ventura County.
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Rita L. Badhan, 43, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Badhan has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 2007. She served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2007 and as a Deputy Public Defender at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2006. Badhan was a Sole Practitioner in 2004. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Abraham Khan. Badhan is a Democrat.
Alicia Y. Blanco, 54, of Burbank, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Blanco has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2014 to 2015. Blanco served as a Supervising Deputy Federal Public Defender at the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California from 2003 to 2014 and as a Deputy Federal Defender there from 1991 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Southwestern University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Leslie A. Swain. Blanco is a Democrat.
Robert E. Sanchez DuFour, 41, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Sanchez DuFour has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 2005. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Vanderbilt University Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven P. Sanora. Sanchez DuFour is a Democrat.
Ronald O. Kaye, 59, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Kaye has been a Partner and Co-Founder at Kaye, McLane, Bednarski & Litt LLP since 2003. He served as a Deputy Federal Public Defender at the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California from 1995 to 2003 and was an Attorney at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles from 1992 to 1995. Kaye was an Associate at Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe from 1991 to 1992 and the Staff Attorney at the Central American Refugee Center, Los Angeles from 1990 to 1991. He earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Arts degree in urban planning from a joint program of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard E. Rico. Kaye is a Democrat.
Elizabeth Potter Scully, 48, of Culver City, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Scully has been a Founding Partner at Jacobson Scully LLP since 2018. She was a Founding Partner at Jacobson Scully Shebby LLP from 2010 to 2018 and a Sole Practitioner from 2007 to 2010. Scully was a Partner at Kaufman Young Spiegel Robinson & Kenerson LLP from 2001 to 2007 and Senior Associate at Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP from 1996 to 2001. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael A. Cowell. Scully is a Democrat.
David W. Swift, 41, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Swift has been a Partner at Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP since 2014, where he was an Associate from 2008 to 2013. He was an Associate at Strange & Carpenter in 2008 and at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP from 2005 to 2008. Swift served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Cynthia Holcomb Hall at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 2004 to 2005. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Elizabeth A. White. Swift is a Democrat.
Hernan D. Vera, 50, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Vera has been a Principal at Bird Marella since 2015. He was President and Chief Executive Officer at Public Counsel from 2008 to 2014, where he was Director of the Consumer Law Project from 2002 to 2008. He was an Associate and Counsel at O’Melveny & Myers LLP from 1997 to 2002. Vera was an Education Staff Attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 1996 to 1997, a Law Clerk for the Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 1995 to 1996 and an Associate at O’Melveny & Myers LLP from 1994 to 1995. He 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 Elizabeth R. Feffer. Vera is a Democrat.
Wendy L. Wilcox, 50, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Wilcox has been a Partner and Owner at Skane Wilcox LLP since 2010. She was a Partner and Owner at Jampol Zimet Skane & Wilcox LLP from 2005 to 2010 and at Jampol Zimet & Wilcox LLP from 2004 to 2005. Wilcox was an Associate at Sedgwick LLP from 2002 to 2004, at Tressler LLP from 2000 to 2002 and at Ward, Kroll & Jampol from 1997 to 2000. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stan Blumenfeld. Wilcox is registered without party preference.
Bryant Y. Yang, 38, of Arcadia, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Yang has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California since 2016. He was an Associate at Irell & Manella LLP from 2012 to 2016 and was a Lecturer and Adjunct Professor at Harvey Mudd College in 2009, 2015 and 2020. Yang was Deputy Director of Voter Protection at Organizing for America – Nevada in 2012. He served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 2011 to 2012 and at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 2010 to 2011.Yang served as Special Prosecutor at the Burbank City Attorney’s Office and as Special Counsel at the Glendale City Attorney’s Office in 2010. He was an Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP from 2007 to 2010. Yang earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Yvonne T. Sanchez. Yang is a Democrat.