Recognizing the experience and skill of three Black jurists, Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated or appointed them to serve California in a higher capacity.
On Nov. 21, the governor nominated Judge Charles A. Smiley to serve as an Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One. His appointments included Commissioner Latrice A.G. Byrdsong to serve as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and Jamilah Jefferson as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court.
Smiley 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. He also served as a Commissioner at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2007 to 2012.
His previous positions include deputy public defender at the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2007 and 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.
Byrdsong has served as a Commissioner at the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2023. Prior to this position, she was benefits counsel for Toyota Motor North America through Axiom Law from 2013 to 2023.
In addition, Byrdsong served as corporate counsel at DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. from 2012 to 2013, senior attorney at Southern California Edison Company from 2006 to 2012, associate at McDermott, Will & Emery LLP from 2004 to 2006, senior counsel at US Airways Inc. from 2002 to 2004, and an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP from 2000 to 2002.
Byrdsong earned a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge James R. Dunn.
Jefferson has served as supervising deputy city attorney at the Oakland City Attorney’s Office since 2019. Previously, she held positions as senior deputy city attorney and deputy city attorney as well as served as a research attorney at the Alameda County Superior Court from 2006 to 2012.
Her expertise includes service as an associate at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld from 2004 to 2006 and at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe from 2003 to 2004. Also, 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.
