San Diego Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program (JMP)

Program Purpose:

The purpose of the Judicial Mentor Program (JMP) is to assist in the recruitment and development of a qualified, inclusive and diverse judicial applicant pool for the San Diego Superior Court. This program was designed by judges in collaboration with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. This program is designed to identify, encourage and provide mentors for individuals considering a judicial career. One of the chief goals of the program is to communicate to all sectors of the legal community Governor Newsom’s judicial criteria for appointing judges who are representative of California’s rich diversity.

Apply to the Judicial Mentor Program:

Attorneys who are current active members in good standing with the State Bar of California, have been admitted to practice law in CA for at least 8 years, and are interested in being appointed to a vacant judicial officer position are invited to apply to JMP. Please note: This program is designed for attorneys who have not yet submitted an application for judicial appointment.

Applications are available for download and can be submitted between September 1 - October 31 for consideration for the next calendar year. The number of accepted JMP participants may be limited based on the availability of judicial mentors.

Prospective judicial applicants who are admitted into JMP will be paired with a mentor judge who will discuss career objectives, provide advice, and answer questions regarding the application and vetting process. Additionally, the mentor judge will be available to assist in providing input as the candidate completes the judicial application and progresses through the judicial appointment process. Participation in the mentor program is not a guarantee of appointment.

Collaboration with Bar Groups:

The San Diego Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program Committee will collaborate with local bar associations that already have judicial recruitment programs. The program is not intended to replace existing bar programs, but to complement efforts by providing bar associations with current insight into the Governor’s judicial qualifications and priorities.

Next Steps:

Prospective JMP applicants should download an application and submit it between September 1 - October 31 for consideration for the next calendar year.

JMP applicants may also want to familiarize themselves with the information and instructions on how to complete a Judicial Appointment Application provided by the State of California.

There are now six current San Diego Superior Court judicial officers who participated in previous years of the Judicial Mentor Program!

Judge Adelaida Lopez

Judicial Mentor Program 2022; San Diego Superior Court Oath of Office: June 2022

I liked that the application for the program was easy to fill out. As an attorney, I was already juggling a caseload and mom life, so I didn’t have a lot of time to spare. I liked knowing that there was a well thought out support system to help demystify the judicial application process.

I highly recommended the Judicial Mentor Program because, now that I am a judge, I can see that my colleagues who volunteer to be on the Judicial Mentor Program Committee are superbly suited to mentor aspiring judges.

The best way to learn what it is like to be a judge is to have the opportunity to connect with judges who can tell you all about their experiences.

Judge Rosy S. Meyerowitz

Judicial Mentor Program 2022; San Diego Superior Court Oath of Office: June 2024

The Judicial Mentor Program did a wonderful job of matching me with a mentor that I could connect with, who understood me, and who pushed me towards my goal. He gave me the courage and confidence I needed to reach my dream of becoming a judge.

It is wonderful to hear the backstory behind a person’s path to the bench and it can be a motivator to feeling that you too can make it happen. In addition, when you are paired with someone who recently went through the process, that person can provide you with valuable tools and guidance. Finally, if you have a mentor that holds you accountable for setting deadlines for your application that too can be very helpful.

Judge Jihan S. Maloney

Judicial Mentor Program 2022; San Diego Superior Court Oath of Office: May 2025

I really enjoyed getting to know my mentor judge, learn about their path to the bench, and what their experience has been like for them. It was so helpful to get my mentor judge’s perspective on so many aspects of the application process.

I would absolutely recommend the program to any attorney who is even considering submitting a judicial application. The program really fosters a wonderful relationship between the mentor and mentee and to have the ability to reach out to someone with questions, etc. is invaluable.

The program really taught me a lot about what it’s like to be a judge behind the scenes. I am so grateful to have been selected to participate in the program. I still oftentimes turn to my mentor judge for questions, advice, etc.

Judge Blair A. Soper

Judicial Mentor Program 2023; San Diego Superior Court Oath of Office: May 2024

What I really enjoyed about the Judicial Mentor Program was the ability to speak to a recently appointed Judge and talk about the process. I gained valuable insight on what to expect as well as it held me accountable to a timeline on when I needed to submit my application by. My Mentor was always positive and encouraging and helped me keep my own personal deadlines in the application process.

I would highly recommend the program to others because it helped to have a recent appointee explain the process which helped to define and set expectations. It provides insights that are otherwise unavailable.

As someone who went through the program as a mentee and now a mentor, the program works as well as you want it to work. The mentor can only give you the information they have based on their own personal experience, which can be different for everyone, however, there are so many commonalities for any judicial applicant that you can obtain valuable information about the process that you could not otherwise get.

Commissioner Spencer S. Scott

Judicial Mentor Program 2023; San Diego Superior Court Oath of Office: March 2025

The Judicial Mentor Program allowed me to discuss the position and the application process with a mentor in an informal and open environment where I was encouraged to ask questions and received honest responses. The program not only demystified the application process but also made the process feel more approachable. This helped me submit a stronger and more complete application due to my deeper understanding of the position, application, and the selection process.

When someone approaches me with a desire to become a Judicial Officer one of my first responses is to recommend the Judicial Mentorship Program. The mentorship I received in the program was critical to my selection in the application process.

While the program matches you with one specific assigned mentor, I really appreciated how the program and the assigned mentor helped to create additional mentorship relationships with other Judicial Officers which provided additional insight and guidance from a diverse range of perspectives.

San Diego Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program Frequently Asked Questions

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The Governor’s Office wants to expand the pool of qualified judicial applicants from diverse legal backgrounds and diverse communities. It believes that this program may help encourage prospective applicants to complete the application process, particularly those who may self-select out of the application process.

The Court will pair admitted mentees with a mentor judge. The mentor judge will help demystify the judicial appointment process, answer questions about the judicial application and vetting process, and suggest new skills and experiences to improve the mentee's suitability for appointment.

You must apply. If you meet the qualifications below, please download an application.

Yes, the application must be received between September 1 - October 31 to be considered for the next year's Judicial Mentor Program. The mentorship period will begin on January 1 and last for one calendar year or until submission of a judicial application, whichever occurs sooner.

Judicial Mentor Program mentees must possess the following qualifications:

The program will accept applicants with a minimum of 8 years of experience as an attorney in California; however, priority will be given to attorneys with 10 or more years of experience.
Licensed in California for at least 8 years
Good standing with the State Bar of California and the community
Commitment to public service

Those from legal backgrounds and communities underrepresented in the judiciary are particularly encouraged to apply.

Pairings will be based on common areas of legal practice, affinity bar memberships, and other factors. There is no guarantee that mentees will be assigned a particular mentor judge whose interests closely align with theirs.

Not necessarily. Mentees will be evaluated for their suitability for the program and assigned based on the availability of judicial mentors.

No. This program is designed for attorneys who have not yet submitted an application for judicial appointment.

The program is not intended to replace any existing program or previous relationship. Judicial Mentor Program participation should complement those efforts.

You will receive an email from the Judicial Mentor Program Committee.

No. The program is designed to help you in your career development and in preparing an application for judicial appointment. It is not designed to give certain applicants an inside track. Applicants who do not participate in this program are not disadvantaged.

Yes. Members of the Governor’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee (JSAC) will not serve as mentors.

Send questions via email to [email protected]

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There are now six current San Diego Superior Court judicial officers who participated in previous years of the Judicial Mentor Program!

Judge Adelaida Lopez

Judge Rosy S. Meyerowitz

Judge Jihan S. Maloney

Judge Blair A. Soper

Commissioner Spencer S. Scott

San Diego Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program Frequently Asked Questions

Why has the Judicial Mentor Program been created in partnership with the Governor's Office?

How does the program work?

How do I become a mentee?

When can I submit an application? Is there a deadline to apply to be a mentee?

What are the qualifications for a mentee?

How are mentees paired with judicial mentors?

Will all mentee applicants get a mentor?

If I have already applied for judicial appointment, may I still apply to be a mentee?

What if I am already working with a bar association or judge on my judicial application?

How will I find out if I’ve been selected as a mentee in the program?

Are mentees in the Judicial Mentor Program given preference in judicial appointments?

Are there any judges who will not participate as judicial mentors?

I have a question. Who should I contact?