Court News

Our weekly roundup of local court news. This post will be updated as new information comes across our desks.

Alameda County Superior Court

Elisa Marie Della-Piana, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Della-Piana has been Legal Director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area since 2016. She was Director of Programs and Director of the Neighborhood Justice Clinic at the East Bay Community Law Center from 2008 to 2015. Della-Piana was a Staff Attorney and Fellow at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area from 2004 to 2008. She served as a Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit from 2003 to 2004 and at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California from 2002 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dennis McLaughlin. Della-Piana is a Democrat.
 
Contra Costa County Superior Court

Gina Dashman, of Contra Costa County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Dashman has served as a Commissioner at the Contra Costa County Superior Court since 2020. She was a Partner at Haapala, Thompson & Abern LLP from 2014 to 2020 and an Associate there from 2009 to 2013. Dashman was a Sole Practitioner from 2009 to 2013 and Of Counsel at Stein, Rudser Cohen & Magid from 2002 to 2009. Dashman was Partner and Of Counsel at Buresh, Kaplan, Jang & Feller from 1995 to 2002 and an Associate there from 1988 to 1994. She was an Associate at Epstein Becker & Green from 1986 to 1988. Dashman earned a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington University Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anita Santos. Dashman is a Democrat.

Congratulations and welcome to the bench!