Gov.  Newsom Announces Appointments

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Aug. 18 announced the following appointments:

Norma Cumpian, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections, where she has served since 2020. Cumpian has been director of Women’s Services at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition since 2023 and has held several positions there since 2016, including associate director, manager of Women and Non-Binary Services and life coach. She was a volunteer coordinator at the Center for Restorative Justice Works from 2010 to 2015. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Cumpian is a Democrat.

Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom Aug. 18 announced his appointment of 10 Superior Court Judges, which include three in Los Angeles County listed below:

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Andrew Esbenshade, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Esbenshade has been a partner at Morrison & Foerster since 2023. He was a partner at Durie Tangri LLP from 2020 to 2022 and at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP from 2017 to 2020. He was an associate at Caldwell Leslie & Proctor PC from 1999 to 2003 and a partner there from 2003 to 2017. Esbenshade served as a law clerk for the Honorable Mariana Pfaelzer in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 1998 to 1999. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven Kleifield. Esbenshade is a Democrat.

Brock Hammond, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Hammond has served as a deputy alternate public defender at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office since 2005. He served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2003 to 2005 and at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2002 to 2003. Hammond earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dennis Landin. He is a Democrat.

Olga Giller, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Giller has served as a commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2022. She served as a deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2022 and was a staff attorney at Jewish Family and Children’s Services from 2006 to 2007. Giller was an assistant defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 2004 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary Pohlson. Giller is a Democrat.