Governor Brown Appoints Four More Judges Before Exiting Office

Four more court of appeals justices found out today that they will get their shot to represent higher judgeship in their respective districts allotted by the appointment from Governor Jerry Brown.

The First District Court of Appeals is set to be guided by Gordon Burns, 52, of Davis, who has been appointed associate justice. “He was an attorney at the Resources Law Group LLC from 2010 to 2011 and served as deputy solicitor general at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2006 to 2010, where he was also a deputy attorney general from 1997 to 2006.” Burns will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Terence L. Bruiniers.

Brian Currey, 62, of Manhattan Beach, has been appointed associate justice and will order the Second District Court of Appeals. “Currey has served as a judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2014. He was of counsel at O’Melveny and Myers LLP from 2013 to 2014. Currey was deputy mayor for economic and business policy in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2013 and counsel to the mayor from 2010 to 2013.” Justice Nora Manella’s vacancy allowed Governor Brown to appoint for this position.

Also being appointed to the Second District Court of Appeals are Justices Laurence Rubin, 72, of Los Angeles and John Wiley Jr., 65, of Los Angeles. “Rubin has served as an associate justice at the Second District Court of Appeal since 2001,” while Wiley has “served as a judge at the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2002.”

All positions are required to be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments with the exception of Brian Currey in the Second District Court of Appeals who will be confirmed by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

All four are Democrats.