Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his intention to appoint Judge Natalie P. Stone to serve as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven.
The Governor also announced his appointment of three Superior Court Judges, which include one in Los Angeles County; one in Riverside County; and one in Sacramento County.
Second District Court of Appeal
Judge Natalie P. Stone, of Los Angeles County, has been selected to serve as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven. She has served as a Judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2015. Judge Stone was an Appellate Judicial Attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal from 2010 to 2015. Judge Stone was an Associate at Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP from 1999 to 2010 and served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1998 to 1999. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She is being selected to fill the vacancy that will be created pending confirmation of Justice Gonzalo Martinez’s appointment as Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senior Presiding Justice Arthur Gilbert. Judge Stone is a Democrat.
The compensation for this position is $272,902.
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Angela J. Davis, of Los Angeles County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Davis has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2018. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California from 1995 to 2018. Davis served as a Senior Supervisory Attorney in the Los Angeles Division of the U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Trustee Program from 1993 to 1995. She was an Associate at Coudert Brothers LLP from 1990 to 1993 and at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP from 1988 to 1990. Davis earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Borenstein. Davis is a Democrat.
Riverside County Superior Court
Arthur C. Hester, of Riverside County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Riverside County Superior Court. Hester has served as a Commissioner at the Riverside County Superior Court since 2021. He served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office from 2004 to 2021. Hester was a Contract Attorney with the Law Offices of Sorem, Pastore and Casiano in 2004. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Arizona State University College of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mark A. Cope. Hester is registered without party preference.
Sacramento County Superior Court
Jerome Price Jr., of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Price has served as First Assistant Federal Defender in the Office of the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of California since 2021 and served as an Assistant Federal Defender there from 2012 to 2021. He served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Damon J. Keith at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2011 to 2012. Price earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Shama H. Mesiwala to the Court of Appeal. Price is a Democrat.
The compensation for each of these positions is $238,479.
