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.
10月12日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普今天下午乘坐空军一号总统专机从华盛顿前往以色列，将亲自迎接哈马斯释放的关押人质。 特朗普总统在登机前对媒体表示：“这将是一个非常特殊的时刻……每个人都会同时欢呼。这是前所未有的……我很荣幸能够参与其中——我们将会度过一段美好的时光。” 此前，美国副总统万斯（JD Vance）表示，特朗普总统计划在恐怖组织哈马斯从加沙释放以色列人质后“亲自”迎接他们。特朗普定于今天下午飞往以色列。万斯还证实了哈马斯扣押20名人质，并表示人质“随时可能”被释放。 万斯表示，特朗普总统计划在中东时间10月13日早上迎接获释人质，也就是美国时间的10月12日深夜或10月13日凌晨。 人质释放计划是在以色列政府批准与哈马斯达成第一阶段和平协议几天后进行的。哈马斯于2023年10月7日从加沙袭击以色列，劫持了约250名人质，引发了以色列的持续两年的大规模报复战争，几乎摧毁了巴勒斯坦领土加沙。 万斯称赞人质获释“意义非凡”，“当然，这对他们的家人来说很棒，但我确实认为，这表明，当你走出传统的失败的外交途径，真正尝试一些新的方式时，会发生什么。” 但万斯不认为以色列能够从哈马斯手中收回全部人质遗体，“我认为我们最终会收回大部分遗体，但不会收回全部。”
10月12日纽约报道，华纳兄弟探索公司（Warner Bros Discovery Inc.）拒绝了派拉蒙天舞公司（Paramount Skydance Corp.）最初的收购报价，理由是出价过低。 据彭博新闻社报道称，消息人士透露，华纳兄弟最近几周拒绝了派拉蒙每股约20美元的报价。由埃里森（David Ellison）领导的派拉蒙正在探索收购华纳兄弟的多种途径，包括提高报价、直接向股东募集资金或获得金融合作伙伴的额外支持。派拉蒙一直在与另类资产管理公司阿波罗全球管理公司（AGM）洽谈支持其收购。 埃里森于今年8月完成与其电影制作公司天舞传媒（Skydance Media）80亿美元的合并后，接管了派拉蒙。 埃里森是亿万富翁埃里森（Larry Ellison）的儿子，他于 8 月完成了与自己的电影制作公司 天舞传媒（Skydance…
10月11日华盛顿报道，美国前总统拜登（Joe Biden）正在接受放射和激素治疗前列腺癌，这是他今年1月卸任总统后被确诊患恶性前列腺癌治疗新阶段的一部分。 拜登的助手斯卡利（Kelly Scully）今天确认说：“作为前列腺癌治疗计划的一部分，拜登总统目前正在接受放射治疗和激素治疗。” 82岁高龄的民主党人拜登在今年1月卸任后仍然遭到民主党高层的抱怨。2024年美国总统大选期间，民主党对拜登的年龄、健康和心理健康状况的担忧，同意他与共和党总统候选人特朗普（Donald Trump）进行公开辩论，在一场灾难性的辩论之后，拜登在民主党的压力下放弃了竞选连任。最终，特朗普击败了拜登的副总统、民主党人哈里斯（Kamala Harris）赢得了美国总统大选胜利。 今年5月，卸任后的拜登办公室宣布，他被诊断出患有恶性前列腺癌，并且癌细胞已扩散至骨骼。此前，他还被报告出患有泌尿系统病症。 前列腺癌的恶性程度使用所谓的格里森评分（Gleason score）进行分级。评分范围从6到10，其中8、9和10分的前列腺癌表现更为凶猛。拜登的办公室表示，他的评分为9分，这表明他的癌症属于最具凶猛性的癌症之一。上个月，拜登还接受了手术，切除了额头上的皮肤癌病灶。
10月10日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普今天在社交媒体“真实社交”上发文指责中国实施新的出口管制，并宣布将自下个月起对中国进口产品额外征收100%的关税，这标志着中美贸易战的显著升级。 特朗普总统在文中写道，新的100%关税将附加在现有的中国商品进口税之上。目前，美国对中国进口产品的关税为30%。美国还将自下个月起对“所有关键软件”实施出口管制。这些关税可能会在11月1日或更早实施，“具体取决于中国采取的任何进一步行动或改变”。 特朗普总统今天在“真实社交”的另一篇文章中写道：“中国正在发生一些非常奇怪的事情！他们变得极具敌意，向世界各国发信，声称他们将对每一个与稀土有关的生产环节——以及几乎所有他们能想到的东西——实施出口管制，即便那些东西根本不是在中国制造的。没有人见过这样的事：这实际上会’堵塞’市场，让世界上几乎所有国家都陷入困境，尤其是美国。” 特朗普表示：“我们已经收到其他国家的联系，他们对这种突如其来的贸易敌意感到极度愤怒。过去六个月，我们与中国的关系非常好，因此这次贸易举动更令人意外。我一直认为他们是在’等待时机’，而现在，如同往常一样，证明我果然料事如神！” 特朗普说：“绝不能让中国’俘获’全世界，但他们似乎计划已久，从’磁铁’开始，到其他他们掌控的元素，悄悄形成了某种垄断地位——这是非常险恶的行为。尽管美国也在某些领域拥有垄断地位，而且比中国更强大、更广泛，但我之前选择不使用它们，因为没有必要——直到现在！” 特朗普还说：“他们寄来的信件篇幅很长，详细说明了他们想要限制出口的每一种元素。那些曾经被视为例行公事的事情，如今全都不再例行。我没有和习近平主席通话，因为没有必要。这件事让我和自由世界的所有领导人都感到震惊。我原计划两周后在韩国举行的亚太经合组织（APEC）峰会中会见他，但现在似乎没有必要了。” 特朗普还表示：“更令人震惊的是，他们选择在今天，也就到恰好在中东经过三千年的混乱与战火后迎来和平的这一天，寄出这封信。我不禁想，这个时间点是巧合吗？” 特朗普说：“鉴于中国刚刚发布的这一敌对’命令’，我作为美国总统将被迫采取财政反制措施。中国企图垄断的每一种元素，我们都有两种以上可以替代。我从没想到事情会发展到这一步，但正如万事一样，时机终究到了。虽然这将会是痛苦的过程，但最终，对美国而言，这将是一件好事。” 特朗普还说：“我们目前正在考虑的一项政策，是大幅提高中国进口产品的关税。除此之外，还有许多其他反制措施正在认真研究中。感谢你们关注此事。”
10月10日华盛顿报道，美国战争部部长赫格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）今天宣布，美国与卡塔尔已达成协议，卡塔尔埃米尔空军飞行员将在美国爱达荷州的空军基地训练。该声明是赫格塞斯今天与卡塔尔国防部长阿勒萨尼（Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani）在五角大楼共同举行的新闻发布会上宣布的。呈现出特朗普政府与卡塔尔政府关系又一深化的迹象。 赫格塞斯表示，卡塔尔空军飞行员将在位于爱达荷州的芒廷霍姆美国空军基地与美军人员一起训练。 赫格塞斯表示，该基地将“容纳一支卡塔尔F-15战斗机和飞行员队伍，以加强我们的联合训练，提高杀伤力和互操作能力，这只是我们伙伴关系的又一例证。” 卡塔尔是美国在中东的重要盟友。驻卡塔尔乌代德美国空军基地位于卡塔尔首都多哈附近，驻扎拥有约万名美军，是美国在中东最大的军事基地。 美国右翼活动家鲁默（Laura Loomer）今天在社交媒体X上对美国和卡塔尔两国的声明表示了不满：“我从未想过共和党会在美国领土上为那些为恐怖主义提供资金的卡塔尔穆斯林设立军事基地，让他们可以屠杀美国人。” 鲁默表示：“我认为我不会在 2026 年投票。我无法凭良心为窝藏圣战分子找任何借口。这就是我的底线。”…
10月10日纽约报道，纽约州总检察长詹姆斯（Letitia James）就抵押贷款欺诈指控的辩护律师是华盛顿特区知名律师洛厄尔（Abbe Lowell）。洛厄尔曾代理包括前总统拜登的儿子亨特（Hunter Biden）在内的其他知名民主党人。洛厄尔最出名的可能是他为拜登儿子亨特的枪支和税务案辩护。 10月9日，詹姆斯在弗吉尼亚州遭到一份重磅联邦起诉书，指控她在弗吉尼亚州办理购房贷款时填写表格撒谎，骗取了1.9万美元的贷款。 詹姆斯被控一项银行欺诈罪和一项向金融机构作出虚假陈述罪，一旦罪名成立，她将面临最高60年的监禁和最高200万美元的罚款。 检察官称，她于2020年8月在弗吉尼亚州诺福克市购买了一套三室一卫的房屋，售价约13.7万美元，并为此贷款10.96万美元，因此无法出租。 检察官称，在贷款文件和相关表格上，她表示该房屋将作为第二居所，但在税务申报表上，她将该房屋指定为出租投资房产，并从中赚取了数千美元。 洛厄尔发表声明为詹姆斯辩护时声称，她“断然否认这些指控”，“我们深感担忧，这起案件是特朗普总统的报复欲望所致。” 詹姆斯于今年4月在特朗普政府启动对其房地产交易调查时聘请了洛厄尔。 洛厄尔目前正代表被特朗普总统解雇的美联储理事库克（Lisa Cook）上诉，特朗普政府指控库克还涉嫌抵押贷款欺诈。 亨特在第一次审判中因吸毒期间非法持有枪支被定罪，并在第二次审判中承认逃税罪。前总统拜登在2024年12月卸任前赦免了亨特。 洛厄尔最近还为另一位著名的民主党人、前新泽西州参议员梅嫩德斯（Bob Menendez）辩护。梅嫩德斯目前因11年的监禁正在服刑，同时正在对联邦判决提出上诉。…