California Judicial Mentor Program
San Joaquin County Superior Court Launches First California Judicial Mentor Program in Northern California in Collaboration with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom
Together with Stanislaus, Calaveras, and Tuolumne Counties, San Joaquin County is pleased to announce the launch of the California Judicial Mentor Program, which the four counties will operate as a regional collaboration.
San Joaquin County Superior Court Presiding Judge Xapuri B. Villapudua and Assistant Presiding Judge Michael D. Coughlan announced the first-of-its-kind California Judicial Mentor Program in Northern California in collaboration with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. The program is modeled after a similar program recently launched in Los Angeles and will connect mentor judges with local attorneys to increase the applicant pool for new judges. The program’s intent is to advance Governor Newsom’s goal of appointing highly capable judges who reflect the rich diversity of the state.
“We look forward to working with Governor Newsom’s Judicial Appointments Secretary, Luis Cespedes, in his efforts to encourage and support qualified applicants seeking judicial appointments. Our Court supports a highly qualified, diverse, and inclusive judiciary,” said Presiding Judge Villapudua.
Secretary Cespedes stated the program “is a critical step to ensuring equal access to judicial mentorship for attorneys considering applying to the bench.”
The program pairs local attorneys committed to public service with judges who will help demystify the judicial appointment process, answer questions about the application and vetting process, and suggest skills and experiences that may improve suitability for appointment.
The program will work with local bar associations, nonprofit legal organizations, government lawyers, law firms, and solo practitioners to identify and encourage promising judicial candidates to apply for appointments. The goal is to mentor candidates in their professional development and create a pipeline of highly qualified applicants eligible for appointment.
To learn more about the program, visit the San Joaquin County Superior Court’s website.