Judges and Judiciary
Aug. 1, 2023
More public defenders are being appointed as judges
Critics of the criminal justice system have long had a goal of getting more public defenders into judicial positions. This hasn’t always worked out as intended.
Supreme Court Justice Kelli Evans is the most senior of many judges with a background as a public defender that Gov. Gavin Newsom has named to courts.
Public defenders are having a moment -- on the bench, that is.
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed 17 superior court judges on Friday. Seven were current or former deputy public defenders. Of the 69 superior court judges he's appointed this year, 23 have backgrounds as public defenders.
Last year, Newsom named Kelli Evans to the California Supreme Court; Evans has served as both a federal and county public defender. That...
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