Newsom appoints 15 Superior Court judges across 12 California counties

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced the appointment of 15 judges to trial courts across California, filling vacancies in 12 counties including one in Los Angeles County. The new judges include former commissioners, longtime public defenders, prosecutors and appellate staff attorneys, reflecting a broad mix of trial and appellate experience across criminal, civil and family law.

Two judges were named to the Alameda County Superior Court. Meera T. Parikh, a partner at Poniatowski Leding Parikh PC and former patent attorney, will fill the vacancy created by Judge Mark McCannon's transfer to the San Mateo County bench. Gregory Brown, a supervising deputy attorney general who previously served in the California Department of Justice's Solicitor General's Office and in house at Robert Half, will succeed retired Judge Stephen M. Pulido.

In Contra Costa County, Andrew Verriere, a court commissioner since 2023 and former shareholder at Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere, was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Judge Brian F. Haynes.

Kern County gains Sally Ackerknecht, a court commissioner and former Tulare County deputy public defender who later served with the Department of Child Support Services. She fills the seat of retired Judge Michael G. Bush.

In Los Angeles County, Amir Aharonov, a commissioner on the L.A. Superior Court and longtime family law practitioner, was tapped to replace retired Judge Robin M. Sloan.

Marin County's appointment is Matthew Siroka, a sole practitioner and former First District Appellate Project staff attorney, filling the seat of retired Judge Paul M. Haakenson.

For Mendocino County, FredRicco McCurry, a deputy in the Alternate Public Defender's Office and U.S. Army veteran with senior logistics roles, was appointed to succeed retired Judge Jeannie Nadel.

In Orange County, Susel Carrillo-Orellana, a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner and former deputy federal public defender who also served as a research attorney with Public Counsel, will fill the vacancy of Judge Lon F. Hurwitz.

Two judges were named in Riverside County. Amy K. Nett, a probate attorney for the Los Angeles County Superior Court and former partner at Nett & Nett, will replace retired Judge Angel M. Bermudez. Sylwia Luttrell, a Riverside County Superior Court commissioner and former DA, will fill the seat of retired Judge Bernard J. Schwartz.

San Bernardino County's appointee is Elizabeth Ulsh, a deputy public defender since 2014, who will fill the vacancy created by Judge Bridgid M. McCann's retirement.

In San Francisco County, Newsom appointed two jurists. Bobby Luna, a court commissioner and former sole practitioner and adjunct professor, will succeed retired Judge Vedica Puri. Ai Mori, a chambers attorney to California Supreme Court Justice Martin Jenkins and former 1st District Court of Appeal lawyer, will replace retired Judge Suzanne R. Bolanos.

Santa Cruz County's new judge is Mandy Tovar, a deputy public defender and training, equity and development director in that office, and former trial lawyer at Biggam, Christensen & Minsloff. She fills the seat of retired Judge Timothy R. Volkmann.

Finally, Kendall Hannon was appointed in Siskiyou County. A deputy attorney general and former Judicial Council attorney and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals staff attorney, Hannon fills the vacancy left by retired Judge Karen L. Dixon.