News Archive

October 25, 2023

The Fourth Appellate District, Division Three takes great pleasure in welcoming Associate Justice Martha K. Gooding to our esteemed court.  After a period of three years characterized by judicial retirements, we are pleased to announce that all eight judicial seats within our court are now occupied. 

September 27, 2023

The Fourth District announces the appointment of Justice Martha K. Gooding to the Fourth District, Division Three. (Click here to read the full story).

September 20, 2023

Fourth District, Division Three courthouse in Santa Ana, to be named after Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso.  View the full story.

June 29, 2023

The Fourth District, Division Two, announces Justice Marsha Slough to retire. (Click here to read the fully story).

June 27, 2023

The Fourth District, Division One, names new managing attorney.  View the full story.

June 26, 2023

The Fourth District, Division One, announces the appointment of Justice David M. Rubin to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One. (Click here to read the full story).

June 9, 2023

The California Supreme Court revived a special tradition on Tuesday, June 6th, filling its audience for oral argument with 80 students from San Diego high schools.  View the full story.

May 25, 2023

Court of Appeal Holds Special Session for Imperial County High School Students 

The Fourth District, Division One, recently held a special session of oral argument for more than 500 Imperial County High School Students.  View the full story.

April 10, 2023

The Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One announces the appointments of Julia C. Kelety and Jose S. Castillo as Associate Justices. Click here to read full story.

January 6, 2023

Brandon Henson appointed Clerk/Executive Officer of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, effective April 1, 2023. Click here to read the full story.

Justice Cynthia Aaron
November 7, 2022

Associate Justice Cynthia Aaron of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, will retire on January 12, 2023, after 20 years on the appellate bench. Click here to read the full story.

Associate Justice Judith L. Haller
August 15, 2022

Associate Justice Judith Haller of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, will retire on Oct. 31 after 28 years on the appellate bench. During her tenure at the appellate court, Justice Haller has been actively involved in a leadership role in organizations and committees devoted to improving the judicial system; maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct; and educating members of the legal community. (Click here to read the full story.)

May 18, 2022

The Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One announces the appointment of Martin N. Buchanan as Associate Justice. Read more on the California Courts Newsroom: Commission Confirms Appointments to Court of Appeals.

Associate Justice Richard D. Fybel
March 4, 2022

SANTA ANA — Associate Justice Richard D. Fybel of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three, will retire effective March 31, 2022.  He has served as a justice since February 2002 and has authored over 2,000 opinions, including 260 published opinions.  Before his appointment to the Orange County Superior Court in 2000, he was a partner in the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP. (Click here to read the full story.)


February 15, 2022

Governor Gavin Newsom announces his nomination of Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Patricia Guerrero to serve as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court (read the full story).

Justice David A. ThompsonOctober 4, 2021

SANTA ANA—Associate Justice David A. Thompson of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three will retire from the court on October 15, 2021. “After 24 years on the bench, I am looking forward to returning to the private sector for the next chapter in my legal career,” Justice Thompson stated.

Justice Thompson served on the appellate court for 9 years and authored more than 700 opinions covering the full spectrum of civil, commercial, and criminal litigation. Previously, he served 15 years as a trial judge in the Orange County Superior Court where he presided over hundreds of civil trials and heard thousands of civil motions. Click here to read the full story.

 

September 30, 2021

Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three will celebrate 40 years as a California judicial officer on October 2, 2021.

Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., appointed Justice O’Leary to the West Orange County Municipal Court on October 2, 1981. Governor George Deukmejian appointed her to the Orange County Superior Court five years later. In 1997, her colleagues elected her Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court, making her the first woman in Orange County to hold that position. Her colleagues reelected her to that position two more times. Click here to read full story.


 

April 27, 2021

The Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, recognizes Law Day and its Volunteer Attorney Mediators.