SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of 14 California superior court judges, which include two in Alameda County, three in Los Angeles County, two in Orange County, two in Sacramento County, one in San Bernardino County, two in San Mateo County, one in Santa Clara County and one in Yolo County.
Alameda County Superior Court
Rebekah B. Evenson, 45, of Oakland, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Evenson has been director of litigation and advocacy for Bay Area Legal Aid since 2016. She was senior staff attorney at Prison Law Office from 2008 to 2016. She was an associate at Altshuler Berzon LLP from 2002 to 2008. She worked as a Skadden fellow for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area from 2000 to 2002. Evenson served as a law clerk for Judge Betty B. Fletcher at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 1999 to 2000. Evenson earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kimberly M. Briggs. Evenson is a Democrat.
Joscelyn Jones, 63, of Brentwood, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Jones has served as a judge pro tem in the Alameda County Superior Court Probate Division since 2016 and has been president, CEO and attorney at Jones Torru Law P.C. since 1997. She was an adjunct professor at the John F. Kennedy University College of Law from 2006 to 2015. Jones was assistant chief counsel at the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation in 2000. She was a deputy state public defender from 1995 to 1996 and a sole practitioner from 1992 to 1995. Jones was interim director of the Criminal Defender Program at the New College of California School of Law from 1992 to 1994. She was a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office from 1990 to 1991 and at the Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office from 1983 to 1990. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte. Jones is a Democrat.
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Michelle E. DeCasas, 43, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. DeCasas has served as a deputy city attorney at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office since 2007. She was a civil litigation associate at Tesser & Ruttenberg from 2003 to 2007. DeCasas earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John J. Cheroske. DeCasas is a Democrat.
Lisa R. Washington, 54, of Diamond Bar, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Washington has served as a deputy public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office since 1994. She was an associate at Dickson & Associates from 1993 to 1994 and at the Law Office of Leo James Terrell in 1994 and from 1992 to 1993. Washington was a legal redress coordinator for the N.A.A.C.P Legal Redress Committee in 1992. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dan T. Oki. Washington is a Democrat.
John C. Weller, 39, of Inglewood, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He has served as a deputy district attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 2007. He served as a deputy district attorney at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office from 2005 to 2007. He was a law clerk at the Law Offices of Caree Harper in 2005. Weller earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gerald S. Rosenberg. Weller is a Democrat.
Orange County Superior Court
Robert Gerard, 64, of Newport Beach, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Gerard has been shareholder and chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Friedman Stroffe & Gerard P.C. since 2000. He was a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP from 1997 to 2000 and was an associate there from 1994 to 1997. Gerard was a senior associate at Pettis Tester Kruse & Krinsky from 1990 to 1994. He was an associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLC from 1987 to 1990. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert C. Gannon. Gerard is registered without party preference.
Thomas J. Lo, 55, of Lake Forest, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Lo has served as an assistant public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office since 2001. He was an associate at Hatton, Petrie & Stackler from 1999 to 2001 and at Cooksey, Howard, Martin & Toolen in 1999. Lo served as a deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 1996 to 1999. He was an associate at LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames from 1992 to 1996 and at George & Shields in 1992. He was an associate at the Law Offices of Gerald Schubert in 1992. Lo was a law clerk at Lanak & Hanna in 1991. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Western State College of Law. Lo fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kim G. Dunning. Lo is a Democrat.
Sacramento County Superior Court
Carlton G. Davis, 41, of Roseville, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Davis has served as a court commissioner at the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2017. He served as a deputy district attorney at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2017. Davis served as a deputy district attorney at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office from 2003 to 2006. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law. He fills the vacancy of a new position created on September 24, 2019. Davis is a Democrat.
Julie G. Yap, 39, of Sacramento, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Yap has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California since 2019. She was a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP from 2016 to 2019, where she was an associate from 2012 to 2016. Yap was an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law from 2007 to 2018. She served as a U.S. Supreme Court fellow in the Administrative Office of the United States Courts from 2011 to 2012. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Frank C. Damrell, Jr. at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California from 2005 to 2011. Yap earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Fordham University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert M. Twiss. Yap is a Democrat.
San Bernardino County Superior Court
Shannon L. Faherty, 39, of Rancho Cucamonga, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Faherty has served as a commissioner at the San Bernardino County Superior Court since 2018. She served as a deputy district attorney at the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2018. Faherty earned a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. She fills the vacancy of a new position created on September 24, 2019. Faherty is registered without party preference.
San Mateo County Superior Court
Rachel E. Holt, 48, of Redwood City, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Holt has served as a commissioner at the San Mateo County Superior Court since 2014. She was a partner at Carr Yeley and Associates from 2006 to 2014 and an attorney as a sole practitioner at the San Mateo County Private Defender Program from 2003 to 2014. Holt served as a deputy district attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2002. Holt earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on June 20, 2019. Holt is a Democrat.
Michael K. Wendler, 43, of Belmont, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Wendler has served as a deputy district attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office since 2006. He has served in the U.S. Marine Corps since 1998 and is currently a Lieutenant Colonel. Wendler earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marta S. Diaz. Wendler is a Democrat.
Santa Clara County Superior Court
Brooke A. Blecher, 47, of San Jose, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Blecher has served as a commissioner at the Santa Clara County Superior Court since 2018. She was an attorney and owner at Blecher and Hubbell from 2008 to 2018. Blecher was an attorney at Madden and Redding from 2004 to 2008 and at Olimpia, Whelan, Lively, and Ryan from 2000 to 2004. Blecher earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patrick Tondreau. Blecher is a Democrat.
Yolo County Superior Court
Daniel M. Wolk, 42, of Davis, has been appointed to serve as a judge in the Yolo County Superior Court. Wolk has served as a deputy county counsel in the Office of the Solano County Counsel since 2009. He was an associate attorney at McDonough, Holland & Allen P.C. from 2005 to 2008 and was founder and director of the Legal Clinic of Yolo County from 2006 to 2008. Wolk earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Janet Gaard. Wolk is a Democrat.
The compensation for each of these positions is $214,601.
1月14日萨克拉门托报道，近期降雨导致加州毒鹅膏菌大量生长。加州公共卫生部（CDPH）今天再次敦促加州居民不要采摘或食用野生蘑菇，因为误食毒鹅膏菌导致致命的毒素中毒的风险很高。由于毒鹅膏菌很容易与可食用的类似蘑菇混淆，因此应避免采摘所有野生蘑菇。 加州公共卫生部称，截至1月6日，已有35例病例与此次疫情相关，其中包括3名成人死亡和3例肝移植手术。 加州公共卫生部今天发布的对其12月5日健康警报的更新称，因为加州各地仍在持续发生毒鹅膏菌中毒事件，此次疫情与食用野生蘑菇有关，已导致儿童和成人出现严重的肝损伤。 自11月18日至1月6日期间，加州毒物控制系统（CPCS）在北加州和中部海岸地区（从索诺玛县到圣路易斯奥比斯波县）共确定了35例住院病例。受影响者的年龄从19个月到67岁不等，包括家庭群体和个人病例。以下县已为毒鹅膏菌中毒患者提供医疗救治：阿拉米达县、康特拉科斯塔县、蒙特雷县、旧金山县、圣路易斯奥比斯波县、圣马特奥县、圣克拉拉县、圣克鲁斯县和索诺玛县。大多数病例发生在蒙特雷县和旧金山湾区，但毒鹅膏菌遍布全州，尤其是在橡树、其他阔叶树和一些松树附近。 一些受影响的个人提供的信息表明，毒鹅膏菌是在北加州和中央海岸地区的多个地点采集的，包括县、市和国家公园的土地。 加州公共卫生部的应对措施包括继续与加州中毒控制系统 (CPCS) 和公共卫生合作伙伴协调，开展病例调查、追踪，并开发宣传和教育材料，并已发布三种语言的公共服务公告 (PSA)：英语、西班牙语和米斯特克语。告诫公众，在毒鹅膏菌大量生长的这个高风险季节，采摘或寻找蘑菇存在风险。 此外，加州公共卫生部 还开发了英语和西班牙语的毒蘑菇网页；一份提供重要健康信息的中文文件；英语、西班牙语和中文的传单；以及更新的疫情详情和其他教育资源。
1月14日萨克拉门托报道，加州交通局（Caltrans）今天宣布，将向143个地方清洁交通项目拨款2.02亿美元，优先在加州受污染最严重的社区发展公共交通和电动汽车。这些项目由加州气候投资计划（CCI）通过低碳交通运营计划（LCTOP）提供资金。过去十年，该计划已在碳减排项目上投资超过14亿美元。 加州交通局局长埃尔-塔万西（Dina El-Tawansy）表示：“我们与地方交通机构合作，通过投资改善所有道路使用者出行体验的项目，建设一个繁荣、互联互通的加州，并帮助该州实现其雄心勃勃的气候目标。这些清洁交通项目将更好地服务于受空气污染影响最严重的社区，扩大公交和铁路服务，支持免费或低价票价计划，并鼓励减少汽车出行次数和缩短出行距离。” 加州气候投资计划（CCI）将数十亿美元的“总量管制与交易”资金用于加强经济、改善公共健康和环境，尤其是在弱势社区。该计划旨在减少加州最大排放源的温室气体排放，推动创新，并引导该州走向清洁能源经济。 低碳交通运营计划（LCTOP）已资助了1548个项目，帮助地方交通机构启动新的或扩大的交通服务，购买零排放车队车辆，建设零排放基础设施，并使公共交通更加经济实惠。
1月14日纽约报道，美国电信运营商威瑞森（Verizon）的网络今天出现故障，导致数万名美国用户受到影响。 威瑞森公司表示已注意到此问题，其工程师正在努力查找并解决故障。该公司在声明中表示：“我们深知可靠的网络连接至关重要，并为此造成的不便深表歉意。” 据网络故障追踪网Downdetector.com 报道，美国东部时间下午 1:11 左右，通过共有超过 13 万起用户报告威瑞森公司服务出现了问题，汇总多个来源确认，以及用户在其平台上提交的错误报告状态，追踪到网络故障报告。 据 Downdetector 报道，美国电信运营商T-Mobile 和美国电报电话公司（AT&T）的服务也分别出现了超过 1700 起故障报告。 由于这些报告均由用户提交，因此实际受影响的用户数量可能与网络故障追踪网上显示的数据有所不同。…
1月14日华盛顿报道，美国国务院今天宣布暂停75个国家办理美国移民签证，以遏制其认为可能成为美国公共负担的申请人。 美国国务院首席副发言人皮戈特（Tommy Pigott）今天在一份声明中表示：“特朗普政府正在终结那些企图从美国人民身上榨取财富的人滥用美国移民制度的行为。”“美国国务院将利用其长期以来拥有的权力，认定那些可能成为美国公共负担并滥用美国人民慷慨之心的潜在移民不符合移民资格。” 皮戈特今天在声明中还说：“我们将暂停来自这75个国家的移民签证办理，同时美国国务院将重新评估移民办理程序，以防止那些会滥用福利和公共福利的外国公民入境。” 根据一份内部备忘录，受此次暂停措施影响的国家包括索马里、俄罗斯、阿富汗、巴西、伊朗、伊拉克、埃及、尼日利亚、泰国和也门，中国不在此75个国家限制名单之内。目前暂时尚无法获得完整的国家名单。 美国国务院的一份内部备忘录显示，该指令指示美国驻外各使领馆从1月21日开始暂停审批，同时美国国务院将根据现行移民法重新评估其审查程序。 美国国务院表示，暂停移民签证办理的措施不适用于申请非移民签证，即临时旅游或商务签证的申请人，而这部分申请人占签证申请总数的绝大多数。因此，此次宣布的暂停措施不会影响那些计划今年夏天前往美国观看世界杯的人。 美国国务院发言人证实，该机构正在暂停75个国家的移民签证办理。此举距离美国与墨西哥和加拿大共同主办2026年世界杯仅剩几个月时间，届时将有近200万张门票售给世界各地的球迷。特朗普政府此前曾表示，“任何前往参加世界杯的运动员或运动队成员，包括教练、担任必要支持角色的人员及其直系亲属”，都将不受旅行禁令的限制。 值得注意的是，明尼苏达州社会服务系统被曝存在至少超百亿美元的欺诈行为后，索马里最近受到了特朗普政府的密切关注。该州民主党人州长沃尔兹已经因此重大丑闻宣布退出明年州长连任竞选。上个月，一名独立记者也在一段视频中曝光了明尼阿波利斯市的索马里社区存在的儿童保育欺诈行为。 联邦当局正在调查该州社会服务系统中的相关指控，而明尼苏达州官员则否认了欺诈指控。 美国总统特朗普上个月在一次内阁会议上抨击索马里移民，称他们是“垃圾”，并表示不希望他们留在美国。 尽管特朗普总统上个月曾表示索马里“几乎算不上一个国家”，但特朗普政府1月13日宣布将于明年3月终止索马里人的临时保护身份（TPS），此举实际上将迫使多达2400索马里人离开美国。 去年11月，美国国务院向全球各领事馆发出电报，指示工作人员根据“公共负担”条款实施更严格的审查措施。根据该指示，美国官员必须拒绝向那些被认为可能依赖公共援助的申请人发放签证。
1月14日报道，俄亥俄州遇害夫妇特佩（Spencer Tepe）和莫妮克（Monique Tepe）的家人正在公开谈论莫妮克的前夫，此人被控在家中枪杀了这对年轻夫妇。涉嫌双重谋杀的前夫已放弃引渡至俄亥俄州。莫尼克是39岁的凶手麦基（Michael McKee）的前妻。 据警方称，麦基被控预谋谋杀罪，罪名是涉嫌于12月30日在俄亥俄州哥伦布市的家中枪杀了特佩夫妇。麦基在1月12日出庭受审时没有当庭认罪，但助理公设辩护律师波伊里尔（Carie Poirier）告诉法官，麦基打算做无罪辩护。 哥伦布市市长金瑟（Andrew Ginther）在今天的新闻发布会上说：“我们的心与特佩和莫妮克及其亲人同在，尤其要关心受到影响的孩子们。” 哥伦布市警察局长布莱恩特（Elaine Bryant）今天表示，这是一起有预谋的“家庭暴力相关”袭击事件。她表示，警方从凶手麦基的住所搜出了多件武器，其中一件武器经初步鉴定与此案有关。 据报道，麦基和莫妮克于2015年结婚，2017年离婚。记录显示，他们没有子女。特佩夫妇身后留下两个年幼的孩子，孩子们于12月30日在屋内被安全找到。 特佩夫妇的姐夫米斯莱（Rob Misleh）在接受媒体采访时谈到凶手麦基时说：“她当时只想摆脱他。” 米斯莱表示，莫尼克生前曾告诉他，麦基对她进行了情感虐待。 米斯莱说：“我和许多人都清楚地知道他对她造成的负面影响，以及他对她进行的虐待和折磨，她愿意做任何事来摆脱他。她是一个非常坚强的人。”…
1月13日德国斯图加特报道，据美国非洲司令部（AFRICOM）消息，美国于今年1月份加强了在索马里的空袭行动，目标是青年党和伊斯兰国（ISIS）在索马里的分支机构。美军的行动正值美国在索马里空袭力度全面加强之际。 总部位于德国斯图加特的美国非洲司令部在一份声明中表示，此次空袭是与索马里伙伴开展的更广泛军事行动的一部分。声明未公布伤亡人数。 在1月12日发布的新闻稿中，美国非洲司令部表示，美军与索马里联邦政府合作，对青年党武装分子实施了空袭。此次空袭行动是持续打击“该组织威胁美国本土、美军和海外美国公民能力”行动的一部分。 据报道，1月11日和1月9日，美军还在索马里北部，包括邦特兰省博萨索东南部的戈利斯山脉地区，对伊斯兰国索马里分支发动了空袭。1月8日，据报道美军对青年党发动了更多空袭，其中包括在摩加迪沙西北约154公里处的布尔海博附近进行的一次空袭。1月3日晚至4日凌晨，还“与索马里当局协调”进行了空袭。 美国非洲司令部在一份声明中表示，此次空袭是与索马里伙伴开展的更广泛军事行动的一部分。声明未公布伤亡人数。 根据美国非洲司令部发布的信息，自2025年2月1日特朗普政府首次在索马里发动空袭至6月10日，美国共对索马里境内的青年党和伊斯兰国发动了38次空袭。自6月10日以来，美军已进行了更多空袭。 据反恐中心的一份报告显示，独立监测组织报告称，自特朗普总统2024年再次就任以来，美军的空袭次数有所增加。 该报告援引了美国非洲司令部司令兰利（Michael E. Langley）于2025年4月在美国参议院军事委员会（SASC）作证时的声明。兰利将军在声明中提到了非洲圣战组织对美国本土构成的潜在威胁。 兰利表示：“我们深切意识到，如果‘伊斯兰国’和‘基地’组织继续扩张，它们将对美国本土构成直接威胁。鉴于此，美国非洲司令部将与情报界和跨部门伙伴密切合作，以降低美国国家安全利益面临的风险，”兰利在一份声明中表示。 青年党是基地组织的附属组织，自 2007 年以来一直与索马里政府交战，并继续控制索马里中南部地区的领土。“伊斯兰国索马里”则是一个规模较小的派别，主要集中在邦特兰东北部的山区，据称该派别也与青年党争夺影响力。 根据总部位于美国的非洲战略研究中心（ACSS）的数据，截至2024年，索马里与武装团体的冲突是非洲第三大最致命的冲突，估计已造成7289人死亡。