Gov. Newsom Strengthens Judiciary with Key Appointments

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gavin Newsom Jan. 29 announced his appointment of 16 Superior Court judges, which include three in Alameda County; five in Los Angeles County; one in Orange County; one in Riverside County; one in Sacramento County; one in San Bernardino County; one in San Francisco County; one in Solano County; one in Stanislaus County; and one in Ventura County. 

See the five Los Angeles County judges below.

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Marisa Hernández-Stern, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Hernández-Stern has served as a supervising deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Worker Rights and Fair Labor Section since 2020 and was a deputy attorney general there from 2017 to 2020. She was a staff attorney for Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County from 2016 to 2017. Hernández-Stern was an associate at Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai from 2015 to 2016 and at Traber & Voorhees from 2012 to 2015. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Harry Pregerson at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2011 to 2012. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Hernández-Stern fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Katherine Chilton. She is a Democrat.

 Cristina Legaspi, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Legaspi has been senior deputy county counsel in the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office since 1999 and an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law since 2022. She was an associate at Weissman and Associates from 1998 to 1999 and at Ivie, McNeil and Wyatt in 1998. Legaspi earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Monica Bachner. Legaspi is registered without party preference.

 Paris G. Lewis, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Lewis has served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 2000, having served in several positions there including deputy-in-charge, trainer, and recruitment coordinator. Lewis earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School and a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Hernan D. Vera to the federal bench. Lewis is a Democrat.

 Lowrie J. Mendoza, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Mendoza has been assistant head deputy district attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 2023 and has served in several roles there since 2005. She was a law clerk at the Law Offices of Enrico Mendoza from 2004 to 2005 and at Yuhl, Rhames, Yuhl & Atkinson in 2003. Mendoza earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Terry A. Green. Mendoza is a Democrat.

 Michael D. Weinstein, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Weinstein has served as chief of the Noncapital Habeas Unit at the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California since 2022 and has served in several roles there since 2010. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable J. Spencer Letts at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2009 to 2010 and for the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez there from 2008 to 2009. Weinstein 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 Mary H. Strobel. Weinstein is a Democrat.