Court News
Our weekly roundup of local court news. This post will be updated as new information comes across our desks. Special congratulations to ACBA members Commissioner Bentrish Satarzadeh and Commissioner Elizabeth Riles on your appointments to the Alameda County Superior Court! Learn more
Alameda County
ACBA member Bentrish Satarzadeh, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Satarzadeh has served as a Commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court since 2018 and was a Legal Research Attorney there from 2004 to 2018. She was an Associate at the Cartwright Law Firm from 2002 to 2004. Satarzadeh earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Golden Gate University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jacob Blea. Satarzadeh is a Democrat.
ACBA member Elizabeth L. Riles, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Riles has served as a Commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court since 2023. She served as an Administrative Law Judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board from 2022 to 2023. Riles was Managing Shareholder at Bohbot & Riles PC from 2003 to 2022. She was an Associate at Kerosky & Bradley LLP from 2001 to 2002, at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP from 1999 to 2001 and at Jackson, Tufts, Cole & Black LLP from 1998 to 1999. Riles earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the transfer of Judge Kevin Murphy to the Marin County Superior Court. She is a Democrat.
Brian Caruth, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Caruth has been an Assistant Public Defender at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office since 2021 and has served in several positions there since 1995, including Deputy Public Defender and Associate Public Defender. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Seabolt. Caruth is a Democrat.
San Francisco County
Brian J. Stretch, of San Francisco County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Stretch has been a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP since 2018. He served as U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California from 2016 to 2018 and served in several roles there from 1999 to 2016, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division. Stretch served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Marin County District Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 1999. He served as a Law Clerk at the San Francisco County Superior Court from 1992 to 1993. Stretch earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Rita F. Lin to the federal bench. Stretch is a Democrat.