Newsom names five appellate nominees, appoints two superior-court judges

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Sept. 18, 2026, the nomination of five justices to the California Courts of Appeal and the appointment of two superior-court judges, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor of California.

The governor’s office named the appellate nominees as: Brian Goldman to the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two; Adam Hofmann to the First District Court of Appeal, Division Four; Alexander Giza to the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three; Cindy Pánuco to the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three; and Maria Daghlian Hernandez to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three.

The announcement includes brief professional histories for each nominee as provided by the governor’s office. Goldman, of Alameda County, is listed as Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary since 2023 and previously served in the governor’s legal affairs office, in private practice at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, and as a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit; the office said Goldman will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Marla J. Miller, effective Oct. 2, 2026; the office identified Goldman as a Democrat.

Hofmann, of Sacramento County, is listed as the governor’s Deputy Judicial Appointments Secretary since 2023 and as former counsel and partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP; the office said he fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Tracie Brown; Hofmann is registered without party preference.

Giza, of Los Angeles County, is listed as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2019 and previously as a partner and associate at multiple law firms; the office said he will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Anne H. Egerton, effective Oct. 11, 2026; the office identified Giza as a Democrat.

Pánuco, of Los Angeles County, is listed as a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2024 and previously worked in public-interest and private-practice roles including at Los Angeles Public Counsel and Hadsell Stormer & Renick; the office said she fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Rashida Adams; the office identified Pánuco as a Democrat.

Daghlian Hernandez, of Orange County, is listed as an Orange County Superior Court judge since 2009, a former commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court, and a former senior deputy public defender; the office said she will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Maurice Sanchez, effective Oct. 2, 2026; the office identified Daghlian Hernandez as a Democrat.

The governor’s release also announced two superior-court appointments. Thomas Nocella, of Orange County, was appointed to the Orange County Superior Court; the office said Nocella has served at the Orange County Alternate Public Defender’s Office and will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Juliet Macaulay. Chhaya Malik, of Alameda County, was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court; the office said Malik has served as Deputy Director of Dispute Resolution at the California Civil Rights Department and will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Socrates P. Manoukian. The office identified both appointees as Democrats for party-registration purposes where provided by the office’s release. The governor’s office said the compensation for the appellate positions is $280,052 and for the two superior-court positions is $244,727 each for the current pay period cited in the release. 

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