Pathways to Judicial Diversity
A Judicial Council Initiative to Promote Diversity on the Bench

Judicial Diversity in the News

  

Tri-Counties Judicial Mentor Program Offers Guidance to Attorneys Seeking Judgeships

December 13, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Two-year-old program in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties has 22 volunteer judges mentoring 29 attorneys.

Jury Service and Fairness

Jury Service and Fairness: Understanding the Challenges of Implicit Bias

December 5, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
New video for jurors aligns with Council's strategic plan to promote education on unconscious bias.

Honoring Native American Judges

Honoring California’s Native American Judges

November 9, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
This month, California's judicial branch commemorates the contributions of four judges who served the state courts.

Shelley Curran

Judicial Council Names Shelley Curran Next Administrative Director

September 19, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Curran, the council’s chief policy and research officer, will assume the judicial branch leadership role Jan. 1. Curran is the first woman to hold the permanent leadership role at the council. She is also the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold this statewide office.

 
Judicial Branch Celebrates First Juneteenth State Holiday

Judicial Branch Celebrates First Juneteenth State Holiday

June 15th, 2023 | California Courts Newsroom
Juneteenth became a California state holiday this year, requiring courts be closed in observance of this day as a judicial holiday, through the passage of Assembly Bill 1655.

Judge Andi Mudryk

Judge Andi Mudryk Receives Trailblazer Award

October 16, 2022 | Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County 
Due to her unending and tireless work on behalf of marginalized communities and people living with disabilities, Judge Andi Mudryk was honored with the NLSLA Trailblazer Award at the Just Neighbors Gala on October 16, 2022.

Just Neighbors brings together community advocates, collaborative partners, and government representatives to celebrate NLSLA’s innovative and transformative advocacy while garnering support for increased access to justice for LA County’s underserved communities.

Judge Andi Mudryk embodies the intersections of persistence, resilience, and determination.  In this video, produced by NLSLA, Judge Mudryk shares her upbringing in a Jewish family which emphasized social justice on a daily basis.  Her formative elementary school years were challenged due to a medical disability, which created significant time periods of being out of the classroom.  Judge Mudryk’s legal career in the disability community speaks highly to her exemplary commitment to representative advocacy.  Judge Andi Mudryk also understands the power of representation. As a trans woman with a significant disability, she remembers what it was like to grow up without seeing anyone like herself in a position of power.

Justice Patricia Guerrero

Supreme Court Justice Patricia Guerrero on Judicial Diversity

October 7, 2022 | Good Morning America
Justice Guerrero recently was interviewed on Good Morning America. Justice Guerrero spoke to the importance of representation as well as the pathway to a diverse judiciary. The national exposure of the state’s first Latina California Supreme Court Justice exemplified the state and judiciary’s progress in representing the most diverse Supreme Court in the country.

Justice Therese Stewart

Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointment of First Lesbian Presiding Justice Therese Stewart

October 7, 2022 | Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Governor Newsom nominated Justice Therese Stewart to serve as the Presiding Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two. Justice Stewart, the first open lesbian presiding justice, has argued on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco in the trilogy of cases advocating for marriage equality for LGBT Californians in the California Supreme Court. She also led the team of San Francisco deputy city attorneys intervening as plaintiffs in the federal case challenging Proposition 8. Justice Stewart has a trailblazing and pioneering professional career, strong ties to civic volunteer programs, such as a program she co-founded in the ‘90s, to help San Francisco’s kids of color go to college through mentoring relationships.  

Patricia Guerrero

Judicial Mentorship Program for Appellate Courts Goes Statewide

September 22, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
A new judicial mentoring program is expanding statewide, after the success of a pilot program led by San Francisco’s First District Court of Appeal to help recruit qualified and diverse future candidates to California’s appellate courts.

The program seeks to demystify the judicial appointment process by pairing lawyers and superior court judicial officers with a seasoned justice.

The pilot appellate program launched nearly a year ago, with current and retired justices from across the state serving as mentors. Twenty individuals were paired with mentors, and six of those candidates submitted applications to the Governor’s office for consideration as future appellate court justices, said First District Appellate Justice Teri L. Jackson.

 

Justice Patricia Guerrero

Supreme Court Justice Patricia Guerrero – Question and Answers with Elementary Students: Representation and Pathways to the Judiciary

September 13, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
Justice Guerrero participated in an active and quite engaging conversation with 50 students from elementary students from the Los Angeles. Students of color from Foshay Learning Center, John W. Mack Elementary, and Parmelee Elementary school studied the path to becoming a justice. About 50 students actively engaged in a thirty-minute question and answer conversation with Justice Guerrero. As a newly appointed Supreme Court Justice, Justice Guerrero spoke openly in fielding questions about her daily activities, how she learned about college, and her passion in connecting with young people. Students commented “…thank you for being a role model for Latina kids like me.” The appearance on Good Morning America provided an additional opportunity for the Justice to speak on representation and various pathways to the judiciary.

Patricia Guerrero

Commission Confirms Justice Patricia Guerrero’s Nomination as Chief Justice of California

August 26, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
Justice Guerrero must now be elected by voters at the Nov. 8 general election. If elected, she would be the first Latina to serve as Chief Justice of California.

Judge Kelli Evans

Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Nomination of Judge Kelli Evans to the Supreme Court

August 10, 2022 | Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
The Governor announced the nomination of Judge Kelli Evans to serve as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Judge Evans has broad experience throughout the non-profit, private, and public sectors and served as Governor Newsom’s lead attorney on a wide range of law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice and civil rights-related law, policy, and litigation issues. “Throughout her career, Judge Evans has dedicated herself to helping all Californians have an equal chance at justice,” said Governor Newsom. “Raised by her grandmother in public housing, Judge Evans was inspired from a young age to find ways to help expand justice and opportunity for everyone, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities. I have seen firsthand her commitment to the highest ideals of public service, and her passion to protect and advance civil rights and liberties for all Californians. I have no doubt that her exemplary talent, wide-ranging knowledge and experience, strong moral compass, and work ethic will make her an outstanding Supreme Court Justice,” said Governor Newsom.

Stacy Boulwae Eurie

Governor Newsom Announces Historic Supreme Court Nominations

August 10, 2022 | Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of Supreme Court Associate Justice Patricia Guerrero to serve as California’s next Chief Justice after Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye concludes her current term of office on January 2, 2023. A first-generation Californian, Justice Guerrero was the first Latina to serve on the California Supreme Court and, if confirmed, will be the first Latina to serve as California’s Chief Justice. The Governor also announced his intention to appoint Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans to serve as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by Justice Guerrero’s elevation to Chief Justice.

Commission to Consider Appellate Court Appointments

July 6, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold two virtual public hearings on Aug 3. To consider appointments of Judge Stacy E. Boulware Eurie, as associate justice of the Third Appellate District and Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano, associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Six (Ventura)

Judicial demographics report 2021

Justice Patricia Guerrero Sworn in to California Supreme Court

March 28, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
Guerrero is the first Latina justice to serve on the state's high court. She was sworn in by Governor Newsom on March 28, and will participate in the court’s next oral argument session beginning April 5. “I never dreamed I would be here today, surrounded by all of you,” said Justice Guerrero, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who grew up in the Imperial Valley.

Judicial demographics report 2021

Governor Newsom announces Appointment of the First Openly Transgender Judge to the Bench in California

March 22, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced eight judicial appointments, including Andi Mudryk – the first openly transgender individual appointed to the bench in California – who will serve as a Judge on the Sacramento County Superior Court.

Judicial demographics report 2021

Justice Patricia Guerrero Confirmed to California Supreme Court

March 22, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed Justice Patricia Guerrero as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California. The appointment was approved by a unanimous vote in the Supreme Court Courtroom in San Francisco. Justice Guerrero is scheduled to be sworn in by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 28. A report by the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation found Justice Guerrero "exceptionally well qualified" for the state's high court, "universally lauded for her superior intellect, clear writing, judicial temperament, work ethic, and compassion."

Judicial demographics report 2021

Survey Results: California Bench Growing More Diverse

March 1, 2022 | California Courts Newsroom
For the 16th Straight year, California’s judicial bench has grown more diverse, according to new data released by the Judicial Council. As of December 31, 2021, female judicial officers constitute 38.6% of judicial officers across all court levels, a 1% increase over the prior year and an increase of more than 11 percentage points since 2006—the first year that data were collected for this purpose. The bench also has continued to become more racially and ethnically diverse. The proportion of white judicial officers has declined 7% since 2006. The percentage of Asian, Black, and Hispanic judicial officers has nearly doubled over the same time period, and now 35% of current justices and judges identify as non-white.

Image of Cruz Reynoso

Governor Newsom Nominates Justice Patricia Guerrero to Serve on California Supreme Court

February 15, 2022 | Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Patricia Guerrero to serve as an Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. A widely respected jurist with extensive experience as an appellate justice, trial court judge, partner at a major law firm and Assistant U.S. Attorney, Justice Guerrero is a first-generation Californian who would be the first Latina to serve on the California Supreme Court.

Image of Cruz Reynoso

Commission Confirms Justice to First District Court of Appeal

October 13, 2021 | California Courts Newsroom
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, chair of the Commission on Judicial Appointments, announced that the commission today confirmed Judge Victor A. Rodriguez as Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three (San Francisco).This marked the third virtual hearing in the commission's history. The nominee was confirmed by a unanimous vote of the three-member commission, which includes Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye (Chair), Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline.