11/05/2008 GAAS:761:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Appoints 17 to Los Angeles County Superior Court
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the
appointments of Michael D. Abzug, Teresa A. Beaudet, David C. Brougham, Debra
Cole-Hall, James K. Hahn, Karla D. Kerlin, Bernie C. LaForteza, Ricardo R.
Ocampo, Benny C. Osorio, Amy M. Pellman, Ronald H. Rose, Ray A. Santana, R.
Carlton Seaver, B. Scott Silverman, Jon R. Takasugi, Robert C. Vanderet and
Mark A. Young to judgeships in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Abzug, 59, of Los Angeles, has served as an administrative
law judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board since 2001.
Prior to that, he worked as a sole practitioner from 1981 to 2001 and was a deputy
federal public defender from 1978 to 1981. From 1977 to 1978, Abzug served as
an associate with Wyman, Bautzer, Rothman & Kuchel and from 1976 to 1977,
he was an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Abzug worked
as a special attorney for the Department of Justice from 1974 to 1976. He
earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles
School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California,
Los Angeles. Abzug fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court
commissioner position on April 1, 2008. Abzug is a Democrat.
Beaudet, 55, of Los Angeles, has worked as an associate and
now partner at Mayer, Brown, Row & Maw since 1988. Previously, she was an
associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton from 1980 to 1988. Beaudet
earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Masters degree and
a Bachelor and Arts degree from Loyola Marymount University. She fills the
vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on April 1,
2008. Beaudet is a Democrat.
Brougham, 46, of San Marino, has served as a deputy district
attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since 1988. He
earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law and a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Biola University. Brougham fills the vacancy
created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on April 2, 2008.
Brougham is a Democrat.
Cole-Hall, 46, of Long Beach, has served as a deputy
district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since
1988. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California,
Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University
of California, San Diego. Cole-Hall fills the vacancy created by the retirement
of Judge Francis J. Hourigan. Cole-Hall is a Democrat.
Hahn, 58, of San Pedro, has served as a mediator for the Alternative
Resolution Center since January 2008. Prior to that, he worked as managing
director for Chadwick, Saylor & Company from 2005 to 2007. Hahn served the
city of Los Angeles as mayor from 2001 to 2005, city attorney from 1985 to 2001
and controller from 1981 to 1985. From 1979 to 1981, he was a partner with
Horner and Hahn and, from 1975 to 1979, a deputy city attorney in the Los
Angeles City Attorney's Office. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from
Pepperdine University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Pepperdine University.
Hahn fills the
vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Susan Patricia Spear. Hahn is a Democrat.
Kerlin, 44, of Glendale, has worked with the Los Angeles
County District Attorney's Office as a deputy in charge since March 2008 and
special assistant and deputy district attorney from 1990 to 2008. She earned
her Juris Doctorate degree from the Southwestern University School of Law and
Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburg. Kerlin fills the vacancy
created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Collins. Kerlin is a Democrat.
LaForteza, 47, of Newhall, has served as a deputy district
attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since 2005. He
has been a JAG Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves since 1997. Previously,
LaForteza was a deputy public defender for the Los Angeles County Public
Defender's Office from 1995 to 2004. From 1993 to 1994, he was the program
manager for the University of California, Los Angeles Alumni Association and,
from 1992 to 1993, LaForteza was an attorney at Daza, Eto, Hwu & LaForteza.
He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings
College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of
California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge
David Mintz. LaForteza is a Republican.
Ocampo, 43, of Rancho Palos Verdes, has served as deputy
district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since
1995. From 1993 to 1995, he was a research attorney for the Los Angeles County
Superior Court. Ocampo earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Southwestern
University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from San Francisco
State University. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge
Elena J. Duarte. Ocampo is a Republican.
Osorio, 42, of Castaic, has
served as deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles County District
Attorney's Office since 1995. Previously, he was a sole practitioner from 1994
to 1995. Osorio earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law
School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University. He fills the
vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Irving S. Feffer. Osorio is a
Republican.
Pellman, 47, of Arcadia, has served as a commissioner of the
Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2005. Prior to that, she worked as a
legal director for The Alliance for Children's Rights from 2000 to 2005 and
worked as a senior and appellate attorney for Dependency Court Legal Service,
Incorporated from 1993 to 2000. Also in 1993, Pellman worked as a contract
attorney for Selvin & Weiner and, from 1992 to 1993, she was an associate
at Hedges & Caldwell. Pellman worked as an associate in New York at the Law
Offices of Mark Scherzer from 1990 to 1992. Pellman earned a Juris Doctorate
degree from City University of New York Law School and a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Mount Holyoke College. She fills the vacancy created by the
elevation of Judge Tricia Bigelow to the Second District Court of Appeal.
Pellman is a Democrat.
Rose, 60, of Los Angeles, has served as a commissioner of
the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2000. From 1973 to 2000, he worked
as a public defender with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. Rose
earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Boston University School of Law and a
Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University. He fills the vacancy
created by the elevation of Judge Frank Y. Jackson to Second District Court of
Appeal. Rose is a Democrat.
Santana, 56, of South Pasadena, has been a deputy public
defender with the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office since 1981. He
was a law fellow with Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship from
1979 to 1981. Santana earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of
California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Masters degree and a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy created
by the retirement of Judge Barry A. Taylor. Santana is a Democrat.
Seaver, 61, of Arcadia, has been a partner at Seaver &
Gill, LLP since 1993. Previously, he was a sole practitioner from 1986 to 1993 and
a partner at Baker, Ancel, Morris & Hruby from 1983 to 1986. From 1981 to
1983, Seaver served as president of JURIX and, from 1975 to 1981, he was
an associate with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton. Seaver earned a
Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Princeton University. He fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a
court commissioner position on June 10, 2008. Seaver is a Republican.
Silverman, 59, of Los Angeles, has served as a commissioner
of the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2008. Previously, he was a
partner at Morrison and Foerster from 1977 to January 2008 and a law clerk for
the California Supreme Court from 1975 to 1977. Silverman earned a Juris
Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law
and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy
created by the retirement of Judge Thomas N. Townsend. Silverman is a Democrat.
Takasugi, 45, of South Pasadena, has been a deputy alternate
public defender for the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender's Office
since 1994. From 1990 to 1994, he was a deputy public defender with the Los
Angeles County Public Defender's office. Takasugi earned a Juris Doctorate
degree from the University of Southern California School of Law and a Bachelor
of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He fills the
vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael T. Sauer. Takasugi is a
Democrat.
Vanderet, 61, of Pacific Palisades, is a retired partner of
O'Melveny & Myers LLP since 2005, where he was previously an associate and
partner from 1973 to 2005. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law
School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los
Angeles. Vanderet fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stanley
M. Weisberg. Vanderet is a Democrat.
Young, 39, of Santa Monica, has served as an executive
assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice since 1998. From
1995 to 1998, he was an associate with White & Case. Young earned a Juris
Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California School of Law and a
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He
fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Charles Lee. Young is a
Democrat.
The compensation for each position is $178,789.
