SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the appointment of three justices to California’s Court of Appeal, alongside seven judges to various Superior Courts across the state. This move comes as part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to fill critical judicial vacancies and enhance the state’s judicial system.
The newly nominated justices include Justice Joanne Motoike, who will serve as Presiding Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three. Judge Stephen Goorvitch has been appointed as Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Two, and Judge Amy Guerra will accept on the role of Associate Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Each of these appointments will require confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which includes key figures such as Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Details of the Appointments
Justice Joanne Motoike, hailing from Orange County, has already served as an Associate Justice in the Fourth District Court since 2022. Her previous roles include a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court and a Senior Deputy Public Defender. Motoike holds a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School and fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary.
Judge Stephen Goorvitch from Los Angeles County has been appointed as an Associate Justice in the Second District Court of Appeal. Goorvitch’s background includes serving as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015 and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He completed his Juris Doctor degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and takes over the position previously held by Justice Judith T. Ashmann-Gerst.
Lastly, Judge Amy Guerra, from Fresno County, will serve as an Associate Justice in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Guerra has been a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2018 and formerly held the position of Chief Defense Attorney at the Fresno County Alternate Defense Office. She holds a Juris Doctor degree from the San Joaquin College of Law and fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Bruce Smith.
Superior Court Judicial Appointments
In addition to the appellate court appointments, Governor Newsom announced the appointment of seven judges to Superior Courts across various counties:
- Contra Costa County: Carole Bosch, who has served as an Administrative Law Judge since 2021, fills a vacancy left by Judge Patricia Scanlon.
- Los Angeles County: Victoria Shapiro, previously a Commissioner since 2026, and Anastasia Zykanova, a Deputy Public Defender since 2018, will fill vacancies created by Judge Patrick T. Madden and Judge Ana Luna, respectively.
- Riverside County: Thanh Ngo, who has worked as a Deputy District Attorney, will fill the position left by Judge Kira K. Klatchko.
- San Francisco County: Matthew Kahn, a Partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher since 2013, fills the vacancy created by Judge Mary E. Wiss.
- Santa Clara County: Karen Schulz, an Immigration Judge since 2021, and Carl Chamberlin, the Lead Appellate Court Attorney since 1999, will fill vacancies left by Judge Julianne Sylva and Judge Drew Takaichi, respectively.
The compensation for the Court of Appeal justices is $280,052, while the Superior Court judges will receive $244,727.
Implications of the Appointments
The appointments reflect Governor Newsom’s commitment to ensuring that California’s judiciary is staffed with qualified and diverse individuals. With significant experience in public defense, prosecutorial roles, and administrative law, these judges are expected to bring a wealth of knowledge to their respective courts. Their confirmations will be closely watched as they will shape the judicial landscape in California.
Looking ahead, the next step for these justices and judges is to secure confirmation from the Commission on Judicial Appointments. This process is critical in maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and ensuring that the appointed judges can effectively serve the public.
As discussions surrounding judicial appointments continue, the public is encouraged to engage in the process by sharing their thoughts and insights on the importance of judicial diversity and experience in California’s courts.
