Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed 521 judges during his tenure, a substantial number that is poised to leave a lasting mark on California's legal system. An analysis of these appointments reveals that the vast majority are Democrats, suggesting a significant shift in the state's judiciary towards a left-leaning ideology.
In June 2026 alone, Newsom appointed 29 judges, with 26 identified as Democrats and the remaining three as No Party Preference or Independent. Four of these were elevated to the Court of Appeals, all of whom are Democrats. Additionally, 11 Superior Court judges were appointed across various counties, all of whom are also Democrats.
As of July 1, California faces 64 judicial vacancies, including seven at the appellate court level. Los Angeles County Superior Court has the largest number of openings with 23.
The composition of the California Supreme Court is also heavily influenced by Newsom's appointments. Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Associate Justice Kelli M. Evans are among his appointees, with both Justices Martin Jenkins and Kelli Evans having previously served in Newsom's administration. The court's only Republican appointee, Associate Justice Carol Corrigan, was appointed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The article notes a correlation between Newsom's judicial appointees and perceived lenient sentences in criminal justice cases. Examples cited include Judge Shannon Faherty's sentencing of an undocumented immigrant for vehicular manslaughter, and Judge R. Paul Kawai's sentencing in the Paul Kessler homicide case and another case involving the severe beating of a homeless man. Judge Crystal T. Seiler is also mentioned for handing down lenient sentences in the latter case.
These judicial appointments, characterized by their partisan leanings, are seen as a move by Newsom to consolidate the power of the Democratic Party and its ideology. As Newsom's governorship continues and he potentially eyes a presidential run in 2028, his record of judicial appointments is expected to come under increased scrutiny, particularly given the potential for a president to appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.