California: Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments
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Oct 22, 2025

Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments

SACRAMENTO –
Governor Gavin Newsom announced his appointment of 12 Superior Court Judges: one in Fresno County; three in Los Angeles County, one in Mendocino County, one in Orange County, two in Riverside County, one in San Francisco County, one in San Mateo County, one in Solano County, one in Tulare County.

Fresno Superior Court

Steven Crass, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court. Crass has served as a Commissioner at the Fresno County Superior Court since 2023. He was Of Counsel at Wanger Jones Helsley from 2020 to 2023. Crass worked as a Partner at Baker Manock & Jensen from 2012 to 2020. He was Of Counsel at Littler Mendelson from 2008 to 2012 and was an Associate at Lang Richert & Patch from 2007 to 2008. Crass served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California from 2007 to 2008. He also served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy from 2001 to 2006. Crass served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Merced County District Attorney's Office from 2000 to 2001. Crass received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Francine Zepeda Fitzgerald. Crass is registered without party preference.

Los Angeles Superior Court

Jill Casselman, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Casselman has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California since 2019. She was an Associate at Robins Kaplan from 2013 to 2019 and an Associate at Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten from 2009 to 2013. Casselman received a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Titus. Casselman is a Democrat.

Seza Mikikian, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Mikikian has served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since 2007 where she also served as a Law Clerk from 2005 to 2007. Mikikian received a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephanie M. Bowick. Mikikian is a Democrat.

Afsaneh Ashley Tabaddor, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Tabaddor has been a Law Professor at Southwestern Law School and an Independent Policy Consultant since 2025. She served as the Chief Counsel at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security from 2021 to 2025. Tabaddor served as an Immigration Judge for the Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review from 2005 to 2021. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California from 2002 to 2005. Tabaddor served as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2000 to 2002 where she also served as an Attorney Advisor from 1999 to 2000. Tabaddor received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kenneth R. Freeman. Tabaddor is a Democrat.

Mendocino Superior Court

Charlotte Scott, of Mendocino County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Mendocino County Superior Court. Scott has served in numerous roles at the Mendocino County Counsel's Office including as County Counsel since 2024, Assistant County Counsel from 2020 to 2024, and Deputy County Counsel from 2016 to 2020. She worked as a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Charlotte E. Scott from 2008 to 2016. Scott was a Contract Attorney at Brayton Purcell from 2006 to 2008 where she was also an Associate from 2003 to 2004. She served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Lake County Counsel's Office in 2006. Scott worked as an Associate at Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky from 2004 to 2006. Scott received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cindee F. Mayfield. Scott is a Democrat.

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Orange Superior Court

Carmen Snuggs-Spraggins, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Snuggs-Spraggins has served as a Commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2024. She served as a Senior Administrative Law Judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings from 2016 to 2024. Snuggs-Spraggins served as a Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice from 2005 to 2016.  She worked as an Associate at Abeltin and Migoya from 2003 to 2005. Snuggs-Spraggins received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Randall J. Sherman. Snuggs-Spraggins is a Democrat.

Riverside Superior Court

Jonathan Mendoza, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court. Mendoza has been the Owner of Empire Law since 2017. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Riverside County Public Defender's Office from 2011 to 2017. Mendoza worked as a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Jonathan Mendoza from 2010 to 2011. Mendoza received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of La Verne School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Frederick P. Dickerson. Mendoza is registered without party preference.

Gareit Newstrom, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court. Newstrom has served as a Commissioner at the Riverside Superior Court since 2022. She was a solo practitioner at Newstrom Law from  2017 to 2022. She worked as a Senior Associate at Hess Verdon and Associates from 2015 to 2017. She was the Owner at Gareit Newstrom Law from 2012 to 2015 and served as a Contract Attorney at the Juvenile Defense Panel from 2008 to 2013. She worked as a Law Clerk at the Cronin Law Group from 2004 to 2007. Newstrom received a Juris Doctor degree from Western State University College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Chad W. Firetag. Newstrom is registered without party preference.

San Francisco Superior Court

Lianne Dumas, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Dumas has served as a Deputy City Attorney at the San Francisco City Attorney's Office since 2019. She worked as an Attorney at the Judicial Council of California in 2019. Dumas was the Owner at LMD Legal Aid from 2012 to 2019. Dumas received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow. Dumas is a Democrat.

San Mateo Superior Court

Vivian Wang, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Wang has served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice since 2025 and from 2015 to 2022.  She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California from 2022 to 2025. Wang worked as an Associate at Berliner Cohen from 2013 to 2015 and as an Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell from 2011 to 2013. She served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Diane Sykes at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 2010 to 2011. Wang received a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Elizabeth K. Lee. Wang is a Democrat.

Solano Superior Court

Wendy R. Casas, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Solano County Superior Court. Casas has been a solo practitioner at the Law Office of Wendy Casas since 2018. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Solano County Public Defender's Office from 2007 to 2018 and as a Deputy Public Defender at the Kern County Public Defender's Office from 2005 to 2007. Casas received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Christine A. Carringer. Casas is a Democrat.

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Tulare Superior Court

Roger Wilson, of Fresno County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Tulare County Superior Court. Wilson has been a solo practitioner at the Law Offices of Roger D. Wilson since 2012. He has worked as Counsel at Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver since 2014. Wilson was an Associate at Nuttall Coleman & Wilson from 2009 to 2012. He served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Fresno County District Attorney's Office from 2001 to 2008 and as a Deputy District Attorney at the Tulare County District Attorney's Office from 1999 to 2001. Wilson received a Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Hugo J. Loza. Wilson is registered without party preference.

The compensation for each of these positions is $244,727.

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