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After a grueling journey to one of the most isolated places on Earth, Commissioner Juan M. Valles II returned with a lesson he brings to the dependency bench every day: Communities thrive only when everyone contributes. Those who practice before him say that philosophy shapes a calm, collaborative courtroom.
Sacramento County Judge Jaya Badiga's non-traditional path through domestic-violence work, family law practice, and public service shapes her approach on the bench, where attorneys praise her demeanor, expertise and commitment to fair, trauma-informed judging.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sumako McCallum says she draws on lessons from three generations of women in her family to guide her calm, child-centered approach on the dependency bench.
From prosecuting methamphetamine cases in 1990s San Diego to presiding over Veterans Treatment Court, Superior Court Judge Laura Birkmeyer applies the same investigative rigor to recovery that she once brought to dismantling drug supply chains--measuring progress in sobriety milestones and structured accountability.
Former federal prosecutor brings empathy and precision to the Downey bench
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(Not for printing or reuse)| Jurist | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Magdalena Cohen | Riverside County Superior Court | Nov. 4, 2025 |
| Steven E. Ipson | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 31, 2025 |
| Syna N. Dennis | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 28, 2025 |
| Victor Avila | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 22, 2025 |
| David J. Cowan | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 21, 2025 |
| Charlaine F. Olmedo | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 16, 2025 |
| Francisco Navarro | Riverside County Superior Court | Oct. 9, 2025 |
| Elizabeth L. Bradley | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Oct. 7, 2025 |
| Christopher B. Harmon | Riverside County Superior Court | Oct. 3, 2025 |
| Shama Hakim Mesiwala | California Courts of Appeal --3rd Appellate District | Sep. 29, 2025 |
| Matthew C. Perantoni | Riverside County Superior Court | Sep. 25, 2025 |
| Jason Armand | Riverside County Superior Court | Sep. 22, 2025 |
| Amy Goldman | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Sep. 19, 2025 |
| Kelly Babineau | Nevada County Superior Court | Sep. 18, 2025 |
| Edward B. Moreton Jr. | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Sep. 12, 2025 |
| Sean D. Coen | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Sep. 4, 2025 |
| Michael O'Gara | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 28, 2025 |
| Danette Castillo Brown | Yolo County Superior Court | Aug. 27, 2025 |
| Kendra Thomas | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 25, 2025 |
| Melanie P. Ochoa | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 22, 2025 |
| William Sadler | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 19, 2025 |
| Shauna A. Franklin | Sacramento County Superior Court | Aug. 18, 2025 |
| Pamela Adeles Davis | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 15, 2025 |
| Hayden A. Zacky | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 13, 2025 |
| Hector E. Gutierrez | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 11, 2025 |
| Sonia Dujan | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 6, 2025 |
| Connie R. Quiñones | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 4, 2025 |
| Sheila O. Recio | Orange County Superior Court | Aug. 1, 2025 |
| Humberto Benitez | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Jul. 29, 2025 |
| Stephanie C. Santoro | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Jul. 21, 2025 |