Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Judge Brad R. Hill as a justice in the Fifth District Court of Appeal, Richard S. Kemalyan to a judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Patricia M. Murphy to a judgeship in the Ventura County Superior Court, Judge Nora M. Manella as a justice in the Second District Court of Appeal, and Steven M. Basha to a judgeship in the Yolo County Superior Court

Here is how the appointments stack up from a partisan perspective: 

BRAD HILL
Hill, 51, of Fresno, has served as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 1998. He was previously a judge in the Fresno County Municipal Court from 1991 to 1998. Hill also served as a partner with McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth from 1983 to 1991.  Hill earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law, a Masters degree in Business and Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Fresno. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Tim S. Buckley. Hill is a Republican.

RICHARD KAMALYAN
Kemalyan, 55, of Glendale, has served as a partner with the law firm of Dwyer, Daly, Brotzen and Bruno since 2000. He was previously a partner with the law firm of Kemalyan & Richland from 1996 to 2000 and an associate and partner in the law firm of Chase, Rotchford, Drukker & Bogust from 1976 to 1996.  Kemalyan earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University and Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael Farrell. Kemalyan is a Republican. 

PATRICIA MURPHY
Murphy, 43, of Ventura, has served as a prosecutor with the Ventura County District Attorney’s office since 1987. Murphy earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Roland Nelson Purnell. Murphy is a Republican. 

NORA MANELLA
Manella, 55, of Studio City, has served as a United States District Judge for the Central District of California since 1998. She was previously United States Attorney for the Central District of California from 1994 to 1998. Manella also served as a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1992 to 1993 and in the Los Angeles County Municipal Court from 1990 to 1992. Prior to that, she was an assistant attorney from 1982 to 1990 and an associate with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers from 1978 to 1982. Manella was also legal counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution from 1976 to 1978 and a law clerk to the Honorable John Minor Wisdom of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1975 to 1976.  Manella earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary Hastings. Manella is a Democrat.

STEVEN BASHA
Basha, 59, has served as county counsel for Yolo County since 2000 and previously served as assistant county counsel for Yolo County from 1997. Prior to that, he was district counsel for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District from 1996 to 1997. Basha also was deputy county counsel for Sacramento County from 1985 to 1996.  Basha earned a Juris Doctorate degree at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Bachelor of Arts degree at Albion College. He fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Michael Warren Sweet to Sacramento County Superior Court. Basha is registered decline-to-state.
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Since the last GOP Convention, when a resolution was overwhelmingly passed by delegates asking the Governor to appoint Republican judges, here is the official tally:

Republicans: 4
Democrats: 1
Decline-to-State: 1

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 9th, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.