Accomplishments and New Faces of the Court

In the terms of my two most recent predecessors as Presiding Judge, we were in the throes of the COVID pandemic. We implemented the Odyssey system and the direct calendar for felonies. COVID remains an issue, but nothing like it was. Odyssey has now expanded into all of the divisions of the court and staff has mastered the switch from the old case management to the new Odyssey method.

Use of remote technology has not only kept us healthier, but has enabled counsel and litigants to much more efficiently argue and participate in their cases. Most recently, courtrooms are being better equipped to handle “hybrid” hearings, i.e., those in which some participants are in the courtroom while others participate by remote technology, with those people able to see the judge, witness, and attorneys.

Passing the Gavel

In 2023, five of our judges retired.

In 2024, three more retired: Judges Clare Maier, Jill Fannin, and Susanne Fenstermacher.

But the Governor has responded by appointing four judges in 2023 and six more in 2024. In 2024, we have sworn in Judges Melissa O’Connell, Stephanie Clarke, Nichelle Holmes, Jesse Hsieh, Michael Nieto, and Robert Leach.

Judge O’Connell comes to us from the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Clara University. Stephanie Clarke comes to us from the 1st District Appellate Project. Nichelle Holmes was a Deputy District Attorney here in Contra Costa County. Jessie Hsieh came primarily from the Contra Costa Public Defender’s Office. Michael Nieto was a long-time Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County. Robert Leach was most recently an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. With the swearing in of Robert Leach, we actually have no judicial vacancies, for the first time in many years. This may be short-lived, however, as more judges will retire in 2024. The bottom line is that 14 of our 38 judges have less than three years’ experience on the bench. But they’re an outstanding and diverse group, and will serve the court and the community well.

The Budget

Last January, the Governor proposed a budget for the courts for Fiscal Year 24-25, which did not include a net reduction for the judicial branch. Unfortunately, the economic predictions on which it was based turned out to be too rosy. By the time of the “May Revise,” the statewide budget included a nearly 8% reduction. Courts were not spared, and received an across-the-board cut of $97 million statewide. This was the final budget. It resulted in a direct cut to our court of $1.7 million. This required some cutbacks, including leaving some staff positions vacant, but we have managed the reduction without layoffs or furloughs. Some of our neighboring courts have not been so fortunate.

I’m honored to have had the opportunity to serve as Presiding Judge for 2023 and 2024. Judge Christopher Bowen will take over as Presiding Judge for 2025 and 2026. Judge Joni Hiramoto has been elected as Assistant Presiding Judge, and will serve as Presiding Judge in 2027 and 2028.