Confirmations & in-person oral arg news

Today's DJ has Ex-public defender, plaintiffs’ attorney confirmed to appeal courts -- "The commission confirmed Justice Maria E. Stratton as presiding justice of the 2nd District Court of Appeal, and Martin N. Buchanan as a justice of the 4th District Court of Appeal, Division 1."

• Buchanan was a research attorney in 4/1 from 2003-2004 and a partner with Niddrie, Fish & Buchanan LLP from 2005 to 2010; he "was part of a team that won a Consumer Attorney of the Year Award in 2017 from the Consumer Attorneys of California in cases about seat belts. His most famous case came when he convinced the U.S. Supreme Court it should allow his client to sue Mazda Motor Corp. under California common law even though the company had complied with federal safety standards. Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America, 562 U.S. 323 (2011)."
• Stratton "clerked for Justice Harry Pregerson at the U.S. Central District of California and the 9th  Circuit"; she worked as a public defender and “brought the office to the elite office it is today. She created an appellate unit, she created a death penalty writ unit.”
• "there are now nine open positions on state appellate courts. There are also 112 open superior court seats"

[The Recorder has Commission Confirms 2 Newsom Appeals Court Nominees -- Both Martin Buchanan and Maria Stratton have experience as public defenders and in appellate work.]

And the DJ has 2nd District Court of Appeal resumes in-person orals Thursday -- "The 1st, 3rd and 4th District Courts of Appeal have also announced dates for the return of in-person appearances, while allowing those who prefer remote participation to continue with that method."