Governor Newsom announces judicial appointments 10.31.2025
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced his appointment of 3 Superior Court Judges: one in Monterey County, one in Sacramento County, one in Stanislaus County.
Monterey Superior Court
Brian Jones, of Monterey County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Monterey County Superior Court. Jones has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office since 2013. He worked as an instructor at the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training from 2022 to 2025. Jones received a Juris Doctor degree from Monterey College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marla O. Anderson. Jones is a Democrat.
Sacramento Superior Court
Jose Olivera, of Yolo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Olivera has worked as a Director & Associate General Counsel at Meta Platforms, Incorporated since 2019. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for the Northern District of California from 2014 to 2019. Olivera served as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2011 to 2014. Olivera received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Andre K. Campbell. Olivera is a Democrat.
Stanislaus Superior Court
Clifford Tong, of San Joaquin County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Stanislaus County Superior Court. Tong has served as the Chief Deputy Alternate Defender at the Stanislaus County Alternate Defender’s Office since 2022. He served as the Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Stanislaus County Public Defender’s Office from 2021 to 2022, where he also served as a Deputy Public Defender from 2007 to 2021. Tong received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Nancy A. Leo. Tong is a Democrat.
The compensation for each of these positions is $244,727.