Congratulations to ACBA Members Judge Charles Smiley and Jamilah Jefferson on their appointments!
Please help us congratluate Judge Smiley on his nomination and welcome Jamilah Jefferson to the bench!
First District Court of Appeal
Judge Charles A. Smiley, of Alameda County, has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One. He has served as a Judge at the Alameda County Superior Court since 2012 and as a Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law since 2014. Judge Smiley served as a Commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2007 to 2012. He served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2007 and was an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco from 2004 to 2007. Judge Smiley earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Sandra L. Margulies. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senior Presiding Justice Jim Humes. Judge Smiley is registered without party preference.
Alameda County Superior Court
Jamilah A. Jefferson, of Alameda County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Jefferson has served as Supervising Deputy City Attorney at the Oakland City Attorney’s Office since 2019 and has served in several roles there since 2012, including Senior Deputy City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney. She served as a Research Attorney at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2006 to 2012. Jefferson was an Associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld from 2004 to 2006 and at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe from 2003 to 2004. She served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Andre M. Davis at the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland from 2002 to 2003 and as a Staff Attorney Law Clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 2001 to 2002. Jefferson earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephen D. Kaus. Jefferson is a Democrat.
Congratulations to the new appointees!
Check out more Court News here
Read the press releases from the Governor’s Office here