California Judicial Mentor Program to create more diversity

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new California Judicial Mentor Program on Thursday with the goal of creating "an inclusive judiciary that reflects California's diversity."

The program was first confirmed by the Daily Journal in a June 1 story. Newsom Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Cespedes and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Paul A. Bacigalupo will lead the effort's executive committee. The Daily Journal reported the mentor program is based on an existing program in the Los Angeles County court.

"This mentor program supports our efforts to identify the best and brightest judicial candidates from throughout the state, contributing to a stronger, more inclusive bench to better serve all Californians," Newsom said in a news release.

"The initiative aims to demystify the appellate and trial court application process and improve transparency and accessibility for all members of the legal community," the news release added.

The program is divided into an Appellate Court Mentor Program and a Trial Court Mentor Program. California Supreme Court Justice Martin J. Jenkins, 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Lee Smalley Edmon and 1st District Court of Appeal Justice Teri L. Jackson will co-chair the appellate program, according to the news release.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Erica Yew will represent medium and large counties in the trial court program, and Tehama County Superior Court Judge C. Todd Bottke will speak for small and rural counties.

The news release said a pilot program is already underway in the 1st appellate district, along with regional collaborations by nine county superior courts.

"Mentors are judges and justices -- active or retired -- who agree to mentor at least one attorney per year," according to a page about the effort posted on the Judicial Council website. Lawyers interested in seeking judicial appointment in California may submit applications to be mentored.

Despite efforts by Newsom and predecessors Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger, members of the California judiciary and legal profession are more likely to be white and male than the general population. According to an annual report by the Judicial Council released in early March, the state judiciary was about 65% white and 62% male at the end of 2020.

About 11% of judges were Latino. Nearly 20% identified as Asian, Black or another race. The overall population of the state is 39% Latino and 36% white, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.