New Justices!

 Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of three Court of Appeal Justices: Matthew Scherb as Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight, Judge Corey Lee as Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two, and Judge Arlan Harrell as Associate Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal. 

Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight

Matthew Scherb, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Second District Court of Appeal, Division 8. Scherb has been a Chambers Attorney at the Supreme Court of California since 2021. He served as a Deputy City Attorney in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2017 to 2021. Scherb was an Appellate Court Attorney from 2011 to 2017. He was an Associate at Winston & Strawn LLP from 2005 to 2011. Scherb served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 2004 to 2005. Scherb received a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Elizabeth A. Grimes. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Scherb is registered as no party preference.

Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two

Corey Lee, of San Bernardino County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Two. Lee has served in the San Bernardino County Superior Court as a Judge since 2015. She served as a Deputy Chief Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2015. Lee was a Deputy District Attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2008. She served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Riverside County District Attorney's Office from 2004 to 2007. Lee served as a Law Clerk in the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review from 2003 to 2004. Lee received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Marsha G. Slough. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez. Lee is a Democrat.

Fifth District Court of Appeal

 

Arlan L. Harrell, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as an Associate Justice in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Harrell has served as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2006. He served as a Court Commissioner for the Fresno County Superior Court from 2003-2006. Harrell served as a Deputy District Attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1994-2003. He was an Associate at Lang, Richert & Patch from 1992 to 1994. Harrell received a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Davis King Hall School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Associate Justice Charles S. Poochigian. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Brad Hill. Harrell is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $280,052.

Note also: Diane Meier was appointed to the Alameda County Superior Court after serving as an appellate court attorney in the First District Court of Appeal since 2018.

9th Cir. confirmation hearing / 9th Cir. reps sought

Today's DJ has 9th Circuit nominee ducks questions on same-sex rights, defers to 'originalism' -- Jones Day partner Eric C. Tung faced scrutiny from Senate Democrats over past comments on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights but cited "live issues" in declining to answer most questions during his confirmation hearing for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Tung's chances of being confirmed are considered high, as Republicans have a 12-10 majority on the judiciary committee and control 53 seats in the full Senate.
If he is confirmed, Tung would not alter the partisan balance on the 29-member court, which has 16 judges appointed by Democratic presidents and 13 named by Republican presidents.

Bloomberg Law has Trump Appellate Pick Questioned Over Brief on Legislative Powers

Ninth Circuit Seeks Candidates for Appellate Lawyer Representatives

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is seeking applicants from among the federal appellate bar to serve as Appellate Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Those selected will serve three-year terms commencing January 1, 2026, during which they will participate in meetings throughout the circuit, assist the court with special projects, and attend and participate in the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, an annual gathering of federal judges, attorneys, agency representatives and court staff. This is a hard-working committee, so familiarity with this court’s rules of practice and the ability to serve on one or more sub-committees will be important. The court encourages applications from all states within the Ninth Circuit and all practice areas.

To be considered, applicants should submit a resume of no more than two pages and a brief statement of interest and qualifications, with emphasis on their appellate experience, particularly in the Ninth Circuit. The material should be emailed to Molly Dwyer, Clerk of Court, at molly_dwyer@ca9.uscourts.gov.

The deadline to submit materials is August 22, 2025. For more information about the selection procedures : https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/appellate-lawyer-representatives/alr-information/

9th Cir. nominee

 Law360 has Trump Announces 1st And 9th Circuit Nominees

• The nominees are Joshua D. Dunlap, a partner at Pierce Atwood, for the First Circuit and Eric Tung, a partner at Jones Day, for the Ninth Circuit.
• Tung has been at Jones Day since 2019, his LinkedIn states.
• He was previously a counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel in 2017 and assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California from 2016 to 2017.
• Tung clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch when the justice was on the high court and the 10th Circuit and also clerked for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, his firm bio states.

The DJ has Trump nominates Jones Day partner Eric Tung to 9th Circuit -- If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace 9th Circuit Judge Sandra S. Ikuta on the appellate court.

President Trump Plans to Nominate Two Appellate Judges:

Tung and Dunlap will be Trump’s third and fourth appellate nominees since his return to the White House. His first nominee, Whitney Hermandorfer for the Sixth Circuit, advanced the Senate Judiciary Committee; and Emil Bove, his former personal attorney and current top Justice Department official, is awaiting a committee vote on his nomination to the Third Circuit.

Jones Day Partner, Former Scalia, Gorsuch Clerk Gets Trump Nod for 9th Circuit | Law.com

3 COJA hearings today, starting @ 1 p.m.!

 (COJA) Commission on Judicial Appointments Hearings - 2025-06-24

1 p.m. - hearing for Justice Zukin to become 2/4's PJ

~2 p.m. - hearing for Judge Tamzarian to 2/4

~3 p.m. - hearing for Judge Hanasono to 2/3

[Less than 30 minutes after taking the oath, the 2d District's justices website page has been updated to show Presiding Justice Zukin. Ditto re Justice Tamzarian and Justice Hanasono (who's webpage was posted while he was giving his thank-you remarks!). Great job at the court for getting this up so promptly.]

Commission Confirms Appointments to Appellate Court in Los Angeles

[Update 7/3/25: These 3 COJA hearings are now posted online here.]

CA Judicial Council update

Chief Justice Appoints 5 New Judicial Council Members -- Council consists of judicial officers, court executives, attorneys, and legislators who volunteer their time to help make the court system consistent, impartial, and accessible. Of appellate note, Justice Irion was reappointed to start her newest 3-year term on September 15 and Justice Fujisaki ends her term on September 14.

Judicial Council Membership -- According to the state Constitution, the Chief Justice chairs the Judicial Council and appoints one other Supreme Court justice [currently Justice Corrigan], three justices from the courts of appeal [currently Justices Boulware Eurie, Fujisaki, and Hill], 10 trial court judges, two nonvoting court administrators, “and any other nonvoting members as determined by the voting membership of the council.” The State Bar’s governing body appoints four members, and the state Senate and Assembly each appoint one member.

CJA hearing June 24

The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold public remote hearings on June 24 starting at 1 p.m. to consider three appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

The commission will consider the following appointments:

• 1 p.m.: Justice Helen Zukin, as presiding justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Four (Los Angeles) 

• 2 p.m.: Judge Armen Tamzarian, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Four (Los Angeles) 

• 3 p.m.: Judge Mark Hanasono, as associate justice of the Second Appellate District, Division Three (Los Angeles) 

The hearing will be webcast live on the California Courts Newsroom.  

New Justices!

 SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of three Court of Appeal Justices: Associate Justice Helen Zukin as Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four, Judge Mark Hanasono as Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three, and, pending confirmation of Justice Helen Zukin to the role of Presiding Justice, Judge Armen Tamzarian as Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four. 

Second District Court of Appeal

Associate Justice Helen Zukin, of Los Angeles County, has been nominated to serve as Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four. She has served as an Associate Justice in Division Four since 2023. She served as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2018 to 2023. Justice Zukin was a partner at Kiesel Law LLP from 2006 to 2018. She worked as a Solo Practitioner at the Law Offices of Helen E. Zukin from 1995 to 2006. She was a partner at Simke, Chodos, Silberfeld & Anteau, Inc. from 1990 to 1995. Justice Zukin worked as an associate at Greene, O’Reilly, Agnew & Broillet from 1985 to 1990. Justice Zukin received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Presiding Justice Brian Currey. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Justice Zukin is a Democrat.

Judge Mark Hanasono, of Los Angeles County, has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three. He has served as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2013. Judge Hanasono served as a Deputy Alternate Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2013. He was a Deputy Public Defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 2000 to 2004. He was a Judicial Law Clerk in the District of Columbia Superior Court from 1999 to 2000. Judge Hanasono received a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Luis A. Lavin. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Judge Hanasono is a Democrat.

Judge Armen Tamzarian, of Los Angeles County, has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four. He has served as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2013. Judge Tamzarian was a lead appellate court attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three from 2008 to 2013. He was an associate and later a partner at Case, Knowlson, Jordan & Wright LLP from 1997 to 2008. He was a research attorney at the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1996 to 1997. Judge Tamzarian received a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. Pending her confirmation, he will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Helen Zukin to Presiding Justice. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Judge Tamzarian is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $280,052.