Newsom Announces New Appointments to California Courts
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced a series of judicial appointments on February 19, 2026, naming three new Court of Appeal Justices and seven Superior Court Judges across California. The appointments fill vacancies created by retirements and aim to strengthen the state’s judicial system.
Court of Appeal Appointments
Governor Newsom elevated three judges to the Court of Appeal:
- Joanne Motoike was nominated as Presiding Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three.1 Motoike previously served as an Associate Justice in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three since 2022, and as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court from 2013 to 2022.2
- Stephen Goorvitch was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Two.1 Goorvitch had served as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015.1
- Amy Guerra was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.1 Guerra previously served as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 2018.1
Superior Court Appointments
The Governor also announced appointments to Superior Courts in several counties:
- Contra Costa County
- Two appointments in Los Angeles County: Victoria Shapiro and Anastasia Zykanova.1
- Riverside County
- San Francisco County
- Two appointments in Santa Clara County
Confirmation Process
The appointments to the Court of Appeal require confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which includes Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Francis Rothschild (for the Second District) or Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez (for the Fourth District) and Senior Presiding Justice Brad Hill (for the Fifth District).1
Compensation
The annual compensation for each of these positions is $280,052.
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