Gov. Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments

SACRAMENTO –  Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 15 Superior Court Judges, which include one in Contra Costa County; two in Kern County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Orange County; two in San Bernardino County; one in San Joaquin County; two in Santa Clara County; two in Tulare County; and one in Yolo County.

Appointments to Los Angeles County Superior Court

Michelle Graves, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Graves has served as a deputy district attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 2012. She served as a deputy sheriff at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from 2001 to 2012. Graves served in several roles at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department from 1995 to 1999, including as a deputy sheriff, fiscal clerk and custody assistant. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Irvine College of Law. Graves fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David Sotelo. She is a Democrat.

Jerome Haig, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Haig has been a sole practitioner since 2013. He served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s office from 1994 to 2013 and as a deputy federal public defender at the Federal Public Defender’s office for the Central District of California in 1994. Haig served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office from 1988 to 1994. He was an associate at Sall, Spencer, Callas & Krueger ALC in 1988. Haig is a Major in the California State Guard, serving as a judge advocate in legal support command and as deputy chief of trial defense services. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Holly E. Kendig. Haig is a Democrat.

Dina Richman, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Richman has been corporate counsel at Farmers Group, Inc., since 2022. She was a partner at Cozen O’Connor from 2017 to 2022 and an associate there from 2014 to 2017. She was an associate at Sedgwick LLP from 2007 to 2014. Richman earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard E. Naranjo. She is registered without party preference.