July 2, 2021 Orange County Superior Court Launches Judicial Mentor Program in Collaboration with the Office of the Governor Santa Ana, CA — Orange County Superior Court Presiding Judge Erick L. Larsh announced the establishment of the Court’s Judicial Mentorship Program. In collaboration with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom and Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Céspedes, Judge Larsh has appointed a standing committee comprised of a diverse group of judges to identify, encourage, and provide mentors for attorneys considering a judicial career.

A goal of the program is to convey to the legal community the uniform message of Governor Newsom’s commitment to appointing a highly capable bench reflective of the rich diversity of the state. The Mentorship Program is modeled after a similar program in Los Angeles County and aims to provide guidance to local attorneys through mentorship by Orange County Judges, thus increasing the local applicant pool for new judges. “Our Court is committed to providing resources to our legal community.

This mentorship program is an investment in providing access to justice for our community, through the appointment of highly qualified judges,” said Presiding Judge Erick L. Larsh. “The Judicial Mentorship program will provide an incredible opportunity to the entire Orange County’s legal community,” Elizabeth Macias, Orange County Judge and Outreach Committee Chairwoman said.

The Presiding Judge believes that Judge Macias’s outreach programs are inclusive of all segments of our legal community regardless of disability, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual identity, sexual orientation, practice, and life experience. The program will match local attorneys who may be considering a career as judges with an Orange County Superior Court Judge.

Mentor judges will help demystify the judicial Superior Court of California County of Orange News Release Public Information Office Contact: Kostas Kalaitzidis, 657-622-7097 PIO@occourts.org appointment process, answer questions about the application and vetting process, and suggest new skills and experience to improve the mentee’s 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 appointment.

The goal will be to mentor attorneys in their development, thus creating a pipeline of highly qualified applicants eligible for appointment. To learn more about the program, visit the Orange County Superior’s Court’s website. ###