Newsom names 11 judges to six county courts

Damaris Diaz

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday appointed 11 judges to superior courts in six counties, including four in Los Angeles.

Jessica Hawk was named to the Alameda County court. She has served in several roles at the state public defender's office since 2019. She previously was a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and staff attorney at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She was an associate deputy public defender in Alameda County from 2011-2015. She graduated from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She replaces retired Judge Paul Herbert.

Thomas Eagle Weathers was also appointed to the Alameda County court. Weathers has been a sole practitioner since 2015. He previously held roles at Vasquez Estrada & Conway LLP, Alexander, Berkey, Williams & Weathers LLP, and Alexander & Karshmer. He clerked at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He fills the vacancy left by Judge Eumi K. Lee's federal appointment.

Damaris Diaz was appointed to the Los Angeles County court. She has been an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California since 2016 and was a senior associate at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP from 2011-2016. She graduated from Harvard Law School and fills the vacancy created by Judge Stephen A. Marcus' retirement.

Janet Hong

Janet Hong was appointed to the Los Angeles County court. Hong, a sole practitioner since 2015, was an adjunct lecturer at UC Irvine School of Law from 2019 until 2023. She previously was an associate at Cheong & Denove and a trial attorney at the Los Angeles County alternate public defender's office. She graduated from USC Gould School of Law and replaces Judge Michael Kelley.

Cindy Pánuco was appointed to the Los Angeles County court. Pánuco, of counsel at Perez & Perez APC since 2023, held various roles at Public Counsel and was a partner at Hadsell Stormer & Renick LLP. She graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and fills the vacancy from Judge David Rosen's retirement.

Tiffany Tai was appointed to the Los Angeles County court. Tai has been a court commissioner since 2022. She previously was a partner at Ritt, Tai, Thvedt & Hodges LLP. She graduated from USC Gould School of Law and fills the vacancy left by Judge Howard C. Horn's retirement.

Cindy Pánuco

Kecia Lind was appointed to the Napa County court. Lind has been a deputy district attorney in Napa County since 2015 and was a deputy district attorney in San Mateo County from 2008 to 2015. She graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law and fills the vacancy left by Justice Monique Langhorne Wilson's elevation.

Benjamin Azar was appointed to the Orange County court. Azar, a deputy public defender since 2013, was a contract attorney for Reich, Radcliffe, & Kuttler in 2013. He graduated from UC Davis School of Law and fills the vacancy from Judge Douglas A. Hatchimonji's retirement.

Tiffany Tai

Kimberly Carasso was appointed to the Orange County court. Carasso was a senior attorney at the Law Offices of Marshall Silberberg from 2014 to 2024 and held roles at various other law firms. She graduated from California Western School of Law and fills the vacancy from Judge Stephanie George's retirement.

Leon Dixson was appointed to the Placer County court. Dixson has been regional counsel for Civil Rights at Legal Services of Northern California since 2023. He previously served in various roles at Legal Services of Northern California. He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and has a Master of Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine. He fills the vacancy left by Judge Colleen Nichols' retirement.

Diana Weiss Aizman was appointed to the Ventura County court. Aizman has been a court commissioner since February. She previously was a sole practitioner and a deputy city attorney in Los Angeles. She graduated from Southwestern University School of Law and fills the vacancy from Judge David Worley's retirement.