Newsom Nominated Hernandez to California Court of Appeal
Governor Gavin Newsom has selected Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez for a position on the California Court of Appeal.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in People
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Governor Gavin Newsom announced the nomination of Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez to the California Court of Appeal on September 18, 2026. If confirmed, she will fill the vacancy left by the upcoming retirement of Justice Maurice Sanchez.
Why it matters
The appointment represents a significant shift for the state appellate court, as the nominee brings decades of experience from her tenure on the Orange County Superior Court. Her selection follows a rigorous vetting process that highlights the standards for judicial appointments in California.
Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez brings 30 years of legal experience to the nomination. She was evaluated by the Judicial Evaluation Committee and designated as Extremely Well-Qualified.
The players
Gavin Newsom
He is the current Governor of California who is responsible for judicial nominations in the state.
Maria Daghlian Hernandez
She is a longtime jurist currently serving on the Orange County Superior Court who has been nominated for an appellate judgeship.
Maurice Sanchez
He is the outgoing Justice whose retirement from the California Court of Appeal created the vacancy for this nomination.
The details
Judge Hernandez has served on the Orange County Superior Court since 2009 and previously spent three years as a commissioner. Her background includes a decade of work as a Senior Deputy Public Defender and a four-year stint as the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court.
Timeline
From 1995 to 2006, Maria Daghlian Hernandez worked as a Senior Deputy Public Defender.
She was appointed to the Orange County Superior Court in 2009.
She served as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court from 2014 to 2018.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the nomination on September 18, 2026.
Justice Maurice Sanchez is scheduled to retire on October 2, 2026.
Market Landscape
The nomination follows the procedures required by the California Commission of Judicial Appointments confirmation mandate. This ensures that the appointment process maintains the regulatory standards for the state judiciary.
This nomination impacts the legal oversight in California by filling a critical vacancy on the appellate bench. Residents can expect the court to continue its operations once the commission completes the confirmation process.
The takeaway
The nomination underscores the reliance on experienced trial judges to fill high-level appellate roles. Observers of the California judiciary should monitor the commission hearings for the final confirmation timeline.
Further reading
For more on judicial appointments in the state, visit the California People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ashbarez.
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