Gov. Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments

SACRAMENTO –  Gov. Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of Court of Appeal Justices: Division Two and Justice Gonzalo Martinez as Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven.

The Governor also announced his appointment of 14 Superior Court Judges, which include two in Los Angeles County:

Second District Court of Appeal

Justice Gonzalo Martinez, of Los Angeles County, has been nominated to serve as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, division seven, where he has served as an associate justice since 2023. Justice Martinez served as deputy judicial appointments secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2023. He served as a deputy solicitor general in the California Attorney General’s Office from 2017 to 2019 and was a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs from 2007 to 2017 and in 2019. Justice Martinez served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2010 and at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California in 2007. He was an associate at Coblentz Patch Duffy and Bass LLP from 2005 to 2007 and at Morrison & Foerster LLP from 2003 to 2005. Justice Martinez earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a Master of Arts degree in English from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Dennis M. Perluss. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. He is a Democrat.
 

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Grace A. Kim, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Kim has served as a commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2022. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Dolly M. Gee at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2020 to 2022. Kim served as a senior trial attorney and trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Labor from 2009 to 2020. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Arthur L. Alarcón at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2008 to 2009, for the Honorable Gary Allen Feess at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2007 to 2008 and for the Honorable Carolyn B. Kuhl at the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2006 to 2007. Kim earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Allen Webster. Kim is a Democrat.

Ashley M. Price, of Los Angeles County,  has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Price has served as a commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2021. She served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2005 to 2019 and was a senior law clerk there in 2005. Price served as law clerk at the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California in 2005. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Price fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rafael A. Ongkeko. She is a Democrat.

Gov. Newsom Announces UC Board of Regents Appointment

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom Feb. 29 announced the following appointment:

John Perez, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the University of California Board of Regents, where he has served since 2014. Perez served as an assemblymember for the 46th and 53rd Districts in the California State Assembly from 2008 to 2014, and served as speaker from 2010 to 2014. He was the political director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union from 2001 to 2008. Perez was the political director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union State Council from 1995 to 2000 and the political director of the California Labor Federation from 2000 to 2002. He was an organizer for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades from 1992 to 1995. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Perez is a Democrat.