SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his appointment of 15 Superior Court Judges, which include one in Contra Costa County; two in Los Angeles County; one in Marin County; one in Napa County; one in Riverside County; one in Sacramento County; three in San Diego County; one in San Francisco County; two in San Joaquin County; one in San Mateo County; and one in Santa Clara County.

Contra Costa County Superior Court

Michael Nieto, of Contra Costa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Nieto has served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office since 2022 and has been a Deputy District Attorney there since 1997. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco since 2013. Nieto earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Clare Maier. Nieto is a Democrat.
 
Los Angeles County Superior Court

Doreen Boxer, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Boxer has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2011 to 2015. Boxer served as the San Bernardino County Public Defender from 2006 to 2010. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 1996 to 2006 and at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 1995 to 1996. She was an Attorney and Partner at Grayson, Topsfield and Boxer from 1993 to 1995 and a Senior Staff Attorney for the Legal Aid Society from 1989 to 1992. Boxer earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Helen Zukin to the Court of Appeal. Boxer is a Democrat.

Steven Ipson, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ipson has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2016. He served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 2016. He was a Sole Practitioner in 1994 and an Associate at the Law Firm of Patterson and Miller from 1992 to 1994. Ipson earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Ing. Ipson is a Democrat.
 
Marin County Superior Court

James Schurz, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Marin County Superior Court. Schurz has been a Partner at Morrison Foerster LLP since 1998 and was an Associate there from 1990 to 1998. He served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Marcus Kaufman at the Supreme Court of California from 1989 to 1990. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in European History from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Verna Adams. Schurz is a Democrat.
 
Napa County Superior Court

Robert Stamps, of Napa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Napa County Superior Court. Stamps has served as a Commissioner at the Napa County Superior Court since 2021. He served as Court Counsel at the Napa County Superior Court from 2014 to 2021 and as a Research Attorney at the Santa Clara County Superior Court from 2011 to 2014. Stamps was an Associate at Evans & Page from 2010 to 2011. Stamps served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California from 2008 to 2009. He served as a Law Clerk to Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan at the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2007 to 2008. Stamps earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Victoria D. Wood. Stamps is a Democrat.

Riverside County Superior Court

Sharunne Lavonne Foster, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court. Foster has served as a Commissioner at the Riverside County Superior Court since 2023. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office from 2005 to 2022. Foster earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark E. Johnson. Foster is a Democrat.

Sacramento County Superior Court

Robert Artuz, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Artuz has served as a Commissioner at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2022. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California in 2022 and was a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney there from 2017 to 2022. He was a Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP from 2011 to 2016. Artuz was an Associate at Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP from 2003 to 2010 and served as a Volunteer Deputy District Attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office in 2009. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law and a Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge George P. Marlette. Artuz is a Democrat.

San Diego County Superior Court

Kelly Mertsoc, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Mertsoc has served as a Commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2011. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2001 to 2011 and an Associate at the Law Office of Cheryl Tomac in 2001. She was an Associate at the Law Office of Daniel V. Burke from 2000 to 2001. Mertsoc earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert P. Dahlquist. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Mertsoc is a Democrat.

Rosy Meyerowitz, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Meyerowitz has served as a Commissioner at the San Diego County Superior Court since 2022. She served as a Managing Attorney and Research Attorney at the San Diego County Superior Court from 2015 to 2022. Meyerowitz was an Associate at Woolf, Gafni & Fowler LLP from 2013 to 2015. She served as a Graduate Law Clerk and Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2012. Meyerowitz earned a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Garcia. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Meyerowitz is registered without party preference.

Kristopher Young, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Young has served as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2010. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps from 2012 to 2024. Young was an Associate at Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP from 2007 to 2010. He served as a Captain, Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002 to 2007. Young earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in Professional Military Education from the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary M. Bubis. Young is a Democrat.

San Francisco County Superior Court

Adrienne Leight Rogers, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Rogers has served as Managing Attorney at the First District Court of Appeal since 2023 and has served as an Appellate Court Attorney there since 2008. She served as an Appellate Court Attorney at the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three from 2007 to 2008. Rogers served as a Legal Research Assistant at the San Francisco County Superior Court from 2006 to 2007 and was an Associate at Morgenstein & Jubelirer LLP from 2003 to 2006. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Loretta M. Giorgi. Rogers is a Democrat.

San Joaquin County Superior Court

Katy Jacot, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Jacot has served as a Commissioner at the San Joaquin County Superior Court since 2023. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the San Joaquin County Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2022. She was an Associate at Oium, Reyen & Pryor from 2006 to 2007 and at O’Connor, Cohn, Dillon & Barr from 2003 to 2006. Jacot was an Associate at Branson, Brinkop, Griffith & Strong LLP from 2001 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Vlavianos. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Jacot is a Democrat.

Gurjit Singh Srai, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Srai has been a Sole Practitioner since 2010. He was an Associate at Scott Mitchell Law Inc. in 2010. Srai earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Chapman University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robin C. Appel. Srai is a Democrat.

San Mateo County Superior Court

Sarah Burdick, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve in an interim appointment as a Judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Burdick has served as a Commissioner at the San Mateo County Superior Court since 2022. She served as a Deputy County Counsel in the Santa Clara County Counsel’s Office from 2019 to 2022. Burdick was a Senior Associate at Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver from 2012 to 2019. She served as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2012. Burdick earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Foiles. The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2025. Burdick is a Democrat.

Santa Clara County Superior Court

Cynthia Chen, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Chen has been Supervising Attorney at the Dependency Advocacy Center since 2022 and was a Staff Attorney there from 2018 to 2022. She served as Guardian Ad Litem at the Santa Clara County Juvenile Dependency Court from 2017 to 2018 and was a Law Clerk at the Boston Juvenile Court from 2011 to 2012. Chen served as Staff Counsel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2009 to 2011 and as a Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2009. She served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Cormac Carney at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in 2007 and was an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 2005 to 2007. Chen earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kenneth P. Barnum. Chen is registered without party preference.

The compensation for each of these positions is $238,479.