The Alameda County Superior Court welcomes four new judges in January: Commissioner Mark Fickes, Jessica Hawk, Jamilah Jefferson, and Terry Wiley.
Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Jessica Hawk and Jamilah Jefferson to fill vacancies left by retiring judges. Mark Fickes and Terry Wiley earned their seats through the primary election and will begin six-year terms in early 2025.
Commissioner Mark Fickes, an ACBA member and former partner at Cannata, O’Toole, Fickes & Olson LLP, brings decades of legal experience to the bench. Commissioner Fickes began practicing law in 1995 and has tried dozens of cases in state and federal courts. Before serving as a court commissioner in Alameda County, he was a trial counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a prosecutor in the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, and a private practitioner at leading law firms. He also served on the board of Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom and regularly teaches for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Jessica Hawk, also an ACBA member, has dedicated her career to public defense and ensuring access to justice for underserved communities. Hawk most recently served as a Senior Deputy State Public Defender and previously worked as a law clerk for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and as a staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She began her career as an Associate Deputy Public Defender in Alameda County. Hawk earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
Terry Wiley, a former Alameda County prosecutor and leader in criminal justice reform, brings a distinguished career of service and advocacy to the bench. Wiley, who played football and ran track at UC Berkeley, overcame early adversity to excel academically and professionally. He has served in numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the District Attorney’s Office, where he spearheaded initiatives to reduce incarceration rates and address disparities in the justice system. Wiley is also a past president of the Charles Houston Bar Association and has received numerous awards for his contributions to civil rights and legal reform, including the National Bar Association’s prestigious Heman Sweatt Award.
Jamilah Jefferson, an experienced attorney and Oakland resident, spent over a decade serving in the Oakland City Attorney’s Office, most recently as Supervising Deputy City Attorney. She previously worked as a research attorney for the Alameda County Superior Court and as an associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. Jefferson began her legal career clerking for the Honorable Andre M. Davis in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and later for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and brings a wealth of experience in both public service and private practice.
The addition of Fickes, Hawk, Jefferson, and Wiley to the bench represents a diverse range of professional expertise and a shared commitment to serving Alameda County with integrity and dedication. Welcome!
Each new judge will take the oath of office at different times this month. Please contact them directly for more information on timing.
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View the Alameda County Superior Court Judicial Roster
Thinking about ways to get involved in your community? At the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) you’ll find kindred spirits and a group of lawyers who gather together to impact our community beyond what we can do as individuals. Our mission is to promote excellence and build community in the legal profession and to facilitate equal access to justice. For our members, the Alameda County Bar Association brings educational opportunities, networking events, professional development, and a chance to lead and shape the legal community in Alameda County. We have free CLE programs and benefits that apply to a range of legal professionals, from judges and attorneys, to paralegals and law students. Learn more