Committees

Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee

The Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee (JAEC) investigates and evaluates candidates seeking judicial appointments in Alameda County.

The committee:

  • Reviews candidates’ professional backgrounds, legal experience, and qualifications.
  • Gathers input from colleagues, peers, and other relevant sources to assess candidates’ competence, ethics, temperament, and overall suitability for judicial service.
  • Ensures that each candidate meets the high standards expected of Alameda County judges, including a commitment to fairness, impartiality, and community service.

The committee then submits its recommendations directly to the Governor’s Judicial Appointments Secretary, providing valuable insight to guide decisions on judicial appointments. This process ensures that only the most qualified and capable individuals are appointed to serve on the bench, maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and fostering public trust in the judiciary.

JAEC Rules

Krista S. Johnson

Chair

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
4 Embarcadero Center FL. 17
San Francisco, CA 94111

Joshua C. Irwin

Vice-Chair

CA Dept. of Justice
1515 Clay Street, Fl 20
Oakland, CA 94612

Cammila C. Valerio

Secretary

Bednarczyk & Valerio, LLP
1470 Maria Lane, Suite 205
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Jo-Anna Nieves

Ex Officio

ACBA President
The Nieves Law Firm, APC
160 Franklin St., Ste. 210
Oakland, CA 94607

Janice Cho

Ex Officio

ACBA President-Elect
LAW OFFICES OF JANICE CHO, APC
1939 Harrison Street, Suite 120 | Oakland, CA | 94612

Jason M. Allen

Past Chair

Office of the County Counsel, County of Alameda

Committee Members

Samantha Beckett

Member

Centro Legal de la Raza
3022 International Blvd., Suite. 410
Oakland, CA 94601

Rowena Gargalicana

Member

Fried, Williams & Grice Conner, LLP
1939 Harrison St., Ste. 460
Oakland, CA 94612

Cory Hernandez

Member

FAMILY VIOLENCE APPELLATE PROJECT
449 15th St., Suite 104
Oakland, CA 94612

Gautam Jagannath

Member

Social Justice Collaborative
1832 Second Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Jason Leong

Member

Alameda County District Attorney's Office
1225 Fallon St., Suite 900
Oakland, CA 94612

Abigail Mulvihill

Member

Alameda County District Attorney's Office
1225 Fallon St., Suite 900
Oakland, CA 94612

Amir Nassihi

Member

Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P
555 Mission Street, Suite 2300
San Francisco, CA 94105

Stella Ngai

Member

Principal Counsel, Education Affairs & Governance
UC Legal – Office of the General Counsel
1111 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94607

Deborah Smith

Member

Lewis Brisbois
45 Fremont Street, Suite 3000
San Francisco, CA 94105

Vincent Tong

Member

TONG LAW
1999 Harrison Street, 18th floor
Oakland, California 94612

Marshall Wallace

Member

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP
Three Embarcadero Center, 12th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111-4074

Salma Taleb

Staff Liaison

Alameda County Bar Association
548 Market Street, PMB 22692,
San Francisco, CA 94104-5401
(510) 302-2217
Email: salma@acbanet.org

Hadassah Hayashi

Staff Liaison

Alameda County Bar Association
548 Market Street, PMB 22692,
San Francisco, CA 94104-5401
(510) 302-2200
Email: hadassah@acbanet.org