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Pathways to the Bench
June 8, 2023 @ 11:30 am – 4:00 pm
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 N Hill Street, Room 222
Los Angeles, CA
Considering a Career on the Bench?
Join the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association for Pathways to the Bench on June 8, 2023 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse! Programming is from 12 noon to 4 PM and check-in and lunch will begin at 11:30 AM.
Immerse yourself in insightful discussions and gain vital information about becoming a judge in state or federal court. Hear directly from those involved in the selection processes. Learn from judges about their experiences with the application process. Engage in a special roundtable with panelists and others. Register today to begin navigating your own Pathway to the Bench!
Please note this program offers no MCLE credit.
Schedule
11:30 a.m. | Registration Opens
Registration (check-in and lunch) opens at 11:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Speakers:
- Mary McKelvey, Partner, Polsinelli, PC, Los Angeles
- Hon. Samantha Jessner, Presiding Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
- Assistant Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Pathway to the State Court Bench
Who Me? Yes, you! The process for applying to the California Superior Court bench is open to all who qualify. Hear from Governor Newsom’s Judicial Appointments Secretary, Gonzalo Martinez, the JNE Commission Chair, Justin Palmer, and others about the nuts and bolts of applying for a judicial appointment and the importance of maintaining a broadly diverse bench.
Speakers:
- Gonzalo Martinez, Deputy Judicial Appointments Secretary to the Governor of California
- Justin Palmer, Chair, State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE)
- Assistant Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia
- Hon. Kimberley Baker Guillemet, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
- Alan Yochelson, Co-chair, LACBA Judicial Appointments Committee
Moderator: Terrance Evans, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
1:45 p.m. -3:15 p.m. | Pathways to the Federal Bench: U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge and Bankruptcy Judge
Do your career goals include a position in the federal judiciary? Join this extraordinary panel for a deep dive into three different pathways to the federal bench. Nuts, bolts and tips on applying for a position as a U.S. District Court judge, a federal magistrate judge and a bankruptcy judge. The panel will emphasize the need for diversity on the federal bench. A key event for anyone considering a federal bench officer position.
Speakers:
- John C. Hueston, Chair of Senator Padilla’s Central District of California Judicial Evaluation Commission
- David Casey, Statewide Chair, Senator Feinstein’s Judicial Advisory Process
- Hon. Wesley Hsu, Judge, U.S. District Court, Central District California
- Hon. Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux, Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Riverside
- Hon. Pedro Castillo, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Central District California
Moderator: Eddie Jauregui, Partner, Holland & Knight, Los Angeles
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | A Special Roundtable
Join panelists and others in small groups to discuss the appointment processes and learn about the experiences of appointees.
Participating Speakers:
- Gonzalo Martinez, Deputy Judicial Appointments Secretary to the Governor of California
- Justin Palmer, Chair, State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE)
- Adam Hofmann, Immediate Past Chair, State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation (JNE)
- Alan Yochelson, Co-chair, LACBA Judicial Appointments Committee
- Hon. Kimberley Baker Guillemet, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
- Hon. Stuart Rice, Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
- John C. Hueston, Chair of Senator Padilla’s Central District of California Judicial Evaluation Commission
- David Casey, Statewide Chair, Senator Feinstein’s Judicial Advisory Process
- Alan Yochelson, Co-chair, LACBA Judicial Appointments Committee
- Hon. Pedro Castillo, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Central District California
- Judge Magdalena Reyes-Bordeaux
- Hon. Michelle Williams Court, Supervising Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court, Civil Division
And many others!
Thank You To Our Sponsors
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- San Fernando Valley Bar Association
- Ventura County Bar Association
Essential Information
Pricing
- $95 Litigation Section Member
- $125 Non-Section Member
- $50 Government, Non-Profit, Students, New Lawyers and Panel Attorneys
Cancellations/Refunds
Requests must be received in writing by June 5, 2023. A processing fee of 50% of the paid registration fee will be charged for cancellation requests received after June 5, 2023. For more information, email ProgramRegistrations@calawyers.org.
Special Assistance
For special assistance, please email litigation@calawyers.org.
Questions
For registration information, email ProgramRegistrations@calawyers.org. For program content and/or Section information, email litigation@calawyers.org.
This event may be recorded. By attending this event, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded, and to any use, by the CLA, of your likeness, voice, and name in any and all media including social media. If you do not want your name or photo to be used, please let us know in advance. We cannot, however, honor requests to opt out of the use of your image or voice if you choose to ask a question during one of the event sessions.
Google Calendar We are committed to accessibility! Virtual events are equipped with closed captioning. To request an in-person accommodation, send us a note at accessibility@calawyers.com or contact us at 916-516-1760 for assistance.