Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 6.18.25

William Forman, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Forman has been a Partner at Winston & Strawn, LLP since 2021. He was a Partner of Scheper Kim & Harris, LLP from 2009 to 2021. Forman was Counsel at Wilmer Hale from 2008 to 2009. He worked as an Associate at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe from 2003 to 2008. Forman served as a Deputy Federal Public Defender at the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California from 1997 to 2003. He was an Associate at Arnold & Porter from 1992 to 1997. He worked as an Associate at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro from 1990 to 1991. Forman received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James A. Kaddo. Forman is a Democrat.

David Garcia, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Garcia has worked as a Supervising Attorney at Inner City Law Center since 2023. He worked as a Director of Investigations at Edison International from 2013 to 2022. He worked as a Senior Attorney at Southern California Edison Company from 1997 to 2013. He worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California from 1990 to 1997. He worked as a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1986 to 1990. He worked as an Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice from 1985 to 1986. Garcia received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Daniel Feldstern. Garcia is registered as a Democrat.

Sumako McCallum, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. McCallum has served as a Court Commissioner for the court since 2024. She served as Senior Deputy County Counsel at the Office of County Counsel, County of Los Angeles from 2014 to 2024. She worked as a Staff Attorney at the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles from 2003 to 2014. McCallum worked as an Associate at Morrison & Foerster, LLP from 2000 to 2002. McCallum received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Anne Hwang to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. McCallum is a Democrat. 

Alan Z. Yudkowsky, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Yudkowsky has served as a Court Commissioner on that court since 2019. He worked as Principal at the Law Offices of Alan Z. Yudkowsky from 2011 to 2019. Yudkowsky held multiple positions at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan since 1990, including Partner, Special Counsel, and Associate. Yudkowsky received a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Barbara M. Scheper. Yudkowsky is a Democrat

Melanie Chavira, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Chavira has served as a City Prosecutor at the Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office since 2012. She has worked as a Trial Advocacy Instructor at the Trial Advocacy Prosecution Program from 2012 to 2024. Chavira served as a Prosecutor and Assistant Supervisor at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2012. Chavira 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 Mary Lou Villar. Chavira is a Democrat. 

Terrence Jones, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Jones has worked as Chief Trial Counsel at Cameron Jones since 2022. He worked as Chief Trial Counsel at the Law Office of Terrence Jones from 2017 to 2022. Jones worked as an Associate at Ballard Spahr from 2015 to 2017. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California from 2008 to 2015. Jones received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Serena R. Murillo to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Jones is a Democrat. 

Merced County Superior Court

Ashley Albertoni Sausser, of Merced County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Merced County Superior Court. Albertoni Sausser has worked as an Attorney at Albertoni & Associates since 2015. She worked in multiple roles at Fagalde, Albertoni & Flores from 2010 to 2015, including as an Attorney and a Law Clerk. She was a part-time lecturer at the California State University, Stanislaus in 2011. Albertoni Sausser received a Juris Doctor degree from Humphreys Drivon School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Shelly Seymour. Albertoni Sausser is a Democrat.

Orange County Superior Court

Randall Bethune, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Bethune has served as a Commissioner on that court since 2024. He was a Senior Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2006 to 2024. He was an Attorney at the Law Office of Randall S. Bethune from 2003 to 2006. Bethune received a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James L. Waltz. Bethune is a Democrat.

San Diego County Superior Court

Deborah Cumba, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. Cumba has served as a Commissioner on that court since 2021. Cumba served as a Deputy Attorney at the California State Department of Transportation from 2011 to 2021. She was an Associate at Wilson Elser from 2003 to 2011 and an Associate at Clark Hill in 2005. Cumba received a Juris Doctor degree from University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Howard H. Shore. Cumba is a Democrat.

San Francisco County Superior Court

John D. Echeverria, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Echeverria has served as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office since 2024 and served as a Deputy Attorney General from 2016 to 2024. He was an Adjunct Professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco from 2021 to 2025. He worked as an Associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP from 2010 to 2016. He served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California from 2009 to 2010. Echeverria earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anne-Christine Massullo. Echeverria is a Democrat.

Dawn Payne, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Payne has served as an Attorney in the Legal Services office of the Judicial Council of California since 2016. She was a Staff Attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2010 to 2015. Payne was an Associate at Calvo & Clark LLP from 2008 to 2010. She served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Claudia Wilken in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California from 2005 to 2007. Payne worked as an Associate at Morrison Foerster from 2003 to 2005. She served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Harry Pregerson at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2002 to 2003. Payne 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 Kathleen A. Kelly. Payne is a Democrat.

Santa Clara County Superior Court

Jeffrey El-Hajj, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. El-Hajj has served as a Research Attorney for the Sixth Appellate District Court of Appeal since 2013. He was a Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from 2011 to 2013. El-Hajj worked as an Associate at Angel Law from 2009 to 2011. El-Hajj received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Peter H. Kirwan. El-Hajj is a Democrat.

Eunice Lee, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Lee has served as a Deputy District Attorney for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office since 2015. She worked as an Associate at Minami Tamaki from 2008 to 2015. Lee received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Vanessa Zecher. Lee is a Democrat.

Erik Johnson, of Santa Clara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Johnson has served as a Commissioner on that court since 2020. He worked as a Solo Practitioner at the Law Office of Erik Steven Johnson from 2010 to 2020. Johnson was an Associate for Hinkle Jachimowicz, Pointer & Emmanuel from 2007 to 2010. Johnson received a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Carrie Zepeda-Madrid. Johnson is a Democrat.

San Joaquin County Superior Court

Adam Ramirez, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Ramirez has worked as a Shareholder at Hakeem, Ellis, Marengo & Ramirez since 2023 and as an Associate from 2008-2022. He was an Adjunct Professor at Humphreys University Drivon School of Law from 2019 to 2024. Ramirez was an Attorney at the Family Law Service Center from 2007 to 2008. He was an Attorney at the Law Office of Christopher K. Eley from 2007 to 2008. Ramirez received a Juris Doctor degree from the Humphreys University Drivon School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jose L. Alva. Ramirez is a Democrat.

Tulare County Superior Court

Frank Ruiz, of Tulare County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Tulare County Superior Court. Ruiz has served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Kings County Counsel’s Office since 2014. He worked as an Associate for the Children’s Advocacy Group in 2014. Ruiz was a Volunteer Attorney that same year for the Law Offices of the Public Defender in Riverside. Ruiz received a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brett R. Alldredge. Ruiz is a Democrat.

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