SCCBA Congratulates Governor Newsom's Appointments
to the Santa Clara County Superior Court
Former SCCBA Trustee Micael Estremera, 42, of San Jose, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Estremera has served as Supervising Deputy Public Defender at the Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender since 2018, where he has been a Deputy Public Defender since 2008. He served as a Deputy County Counsel at the Office of the Santa Clara County Counsel from 2010 to 2011. Estremera was an Associate and Trial Consultant at Thelen LLP from 2005 to 2008. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Linda Clark. Estremera is a Democrat.
Kelley Kulick, 49, of Los Altos, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Kulick has served as Supervising Attorney of the Research Division at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office since 2021, where she served in that role from 2009 to 2013 and has been a Deputy Public Defender since 1999. She served as a Research Clerk at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office in 1998. Kulick earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James Stoelker. Kulick is a Democrat.
Rebeca Esquivel-Pedroza, 49, of San Jose, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Esquivel-Pedroza has served as a Commissioner at the Santa Clara County Superior Court since 2020. She was Lead Staff Attorney at the Santa Clara County Superior Court’s Self-Help Center/Family Law Facilitator's Office from 2019 to 2020, where she was a Staff Attorney from 2011 to 2020. Esquivel-Pedroza was a Staff Attorney at Bay Area Legal Aid from 2008 to 2011 and in private practice from 2003 to 2007. She was a Staff Attorney at the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program from 2002 to 2003. Esquivel-Pedroza earned a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ronald Toff. Esquivel-Pedroza is a Democrat.
Mission: The Santa Clara County Bar Association provides education and support to member attorneys, advances the local administration of justice, and serves the public by fostering improved public understanding of and access to the legal system.
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Your Pathway to the Bench: Judicial Mentoring Program
Coordinated by Judges Iravani-Sani and Kulkarni, the purpose of this program is to help recruit and develop a qualified, inclusive and diverse judicial applicant pool for Santa Clara Superior Court (and surrounding superior courts). This program was designed by Santa Clara Superior Court judges in collaboration with the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, Judicial Appointments Secretary Luis Cespedes, and the California Judicial Mentorship Program (CJMP).
Learn more https://www.scscourt.org/general_info/jmp/judicial_mentor_program.shtml
Judiciary Committee
Responding to the Governor's requests to evaluate individuals under consideration for judicial appointment, this committee undertakes with great solemnity its role in investigating, interviewing and evaluating prospective applicants to the Bench. Service on the Judiciary Committee is by application only, having met specific criteria and must be approved by the President of the Board of Trustees.
Conference of Delegates
Serving as the SCCBA's delegation to the Annual Conference of Delegates, this committee drafts and reviews resolutions for changes to the law proposed through the Conference of Delegates and ultimately to the California Legislature. The Conference of Delegates acts as a primary catalyst in the amendment to and improvement of existing statute.
2020 - 2021 Recognitions
Dianne Sweeney, Managing Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
2021 Salsman Award Recipient
Hon. Lori Pegg
Santa Clara County Superior Court
2020 SCCBA Jurist of the Year
Hon. Deborah Ryan
Santa Clara County Superior Court
2020 Mary Jo Levinger Woman Jurist of the Year
Steven Haley
Law Office of Steven Haley
2020 Professional Lawyer of the Year
Molly O'Neal, Office of the Public Defender
Santa Clara County
2020 Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipient
Hon.Eugene Hyman (Ret.)
Santa Clara County Superior Court
2020 Unsung Hero Award Recipient
Rob Nuddleman
Labor & Employment Section
2020-2021 Volunteer of the Year
Larry Jensen
Real Property & Business Law Section
2020-2021 Volunteer of the Year
Jaya K. Reddy
Barristers Section
2020-2021Volunteer of the Year
Neha Marathe
Family Law Section
2020-2021 Volunteer of the Year
Law Firm Heroes
SCCBA is proud to recognize the law firms who sponsor the membership of every one of their attorneys. This important support reflects the dedication to the broader legal community in Santa Clara County.
