The San Diego Superior Court has launched a local Judicial Mentor Program to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s recently announced California Judicial Mentor Program – “a statewide undertaking between the executive and judicial branches to advance the shared goal of an inclusive judiciary that reflects California’s diversity.”

Similar to the statewide goals, the local program will assist potential judicial applicants with understanding the start-to-finish process for appointment to vacant seats and encourage the development of a well-qualified and diverse judicial applicant pool with a varied background of legal practice areas.

“We are excited to have the Judicial Mentor Program take shape in San Diego County to provide the support that will elevate our best and brightest local attorneys into judicial officers,” said Presiding Judge Lorna Alksne. “This program will benefit attorneys in their professional growth and also benefit our larger region as it demonstrates our commitment to diversity and developing a bench that is reflective of our community.”

The program will pair eligible attorneys with experienced judicial mentors to provide guidance and encouragement as they prepare for the judicial application process. Attorneys interested in being appointed to the Superior Court are invited to apply to the Judicial Mentor Program. In line with judicial applicant requirements, San Diego Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program participants must be current active members in good standing with the State Bar of California and have been admitted to practice law in California for at least 10 years.

Working with local bar associations, nonprofit legal organizations, government lawyers, law firms and sole practitioners, promising judicial candidates will be identified and encouraged to apply for mentorship and appointment.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Roderick Shelton serves on the statewide Trial Court Mentor Program Working Group and the local Judicial Mentor Program committee is chaired by Judge Dwayne Moring. Judicial Mentor Program committee membership includes Judges Judy Bae, Rachel Cano, Cynthia Freeland and Garry Haehnle.

For more information on the San Diego Superior Court’s Judicial Mentor Program, please visit sdcourt.ca.gov/JudicialMentorProgram.