California Judicial Mentor Program

Tuesday
May 12, 2026
12:15 – 1:30 p.m. (PT)

Hosted by The California Judicial Mentor Program (Appellate)
Location: Zoom
Key Speaker(s): Hon. Jeremy Fogel (ret.), BJI, UC Berkeley Law; Hon. Hernaldo Baltodano, CA Court of Appeals; Hon. Martin Jenkins, CA Court of Appeals; Hon. Amy Guerra, Fresno County Superior Court, CA; Jennifer Chen, CA Court of Appeals

Wednesday
April 22, 2026
1:30 – 4:00 p.m. (PT)

Co-Sponsored by the LACBA PAC-Women and the Beverly Hills Bar Association
Location: Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Department 1, Los Angeles County Superior Court
Key Speaker(s): Justice Helen Zukin, Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Four; Judge Sergio C. Tapia II, Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court; Justice Audra Mori, Associate Justice, Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four; Gretchen Nelson, Partner, Nelson & Fraenkel, LLP

Feb 5,
2026

What does it really take to thrive in litigation? Too often, women are told they must be dominant, aggressive, or unemotional to succeed in the courtroom.

This panel of accomplished women litigators will dispel those myths, share the challenges they’ve faced, how they navigated barriers, and the rewards of building a litigation career. Women make up 41% of U.S. lawyers but only 28% of law firm partners, and in the public sector they remain underrepresented in senior leadership. For women of color, barriers are even steeper: they hold less than 5% of equity partnerships, and nearly 70% report experiencing bias or exclusion from key opportunities.

This conversation will highlight resilience, redefine confidence, and offer strategies to help more women enter, stay, and thrive in litigation.

Oct 10,
2024

Location: Zoom
Key Speakers: Hon. Brenda Harbin-Forte (ret.), Alameda County Superior Court; Elizabeth Hom, State Bar of California; Hon. Teri Jackson, First District Court of Appeal; Hon. Victor Rodriguez, First District Court of Appeal; Yun Xiang, State Bar of California; Hon. Erica Yew, Santa Clara County Superior Court

In 2000, the California State Bar released a twenty-year projection that found as the population of California would become more diverse, the demographic make-up for attorneys and judges was projected to be less diverse. As a result, numerous pipeline projects were initiated, and the state held its first Judicial Diversity Summit in 2006. Since that time, strides have been made in the profession. This program will commemorate where we started, share the ground we have covered through the California State Bar Diversity Report Card, and explore what has yet to be done through the Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Providing Access and Fairness, the California Judicial Mentor Program, the California State Bar, and the affinity bar and judicial associations.

Apr 3,
2023

Location: Zoom
Key Speakers: Hon. Luis Cespedes, Judicial Branch of California; Hon. Nancy de la Pena, Santa Cruz County Superior Court; Hon. Omar Rodriguez, Sen Benito County Superior Court; Hon. Erica Yew, Santa Clara County Superior Court

If you are interested in appointment to the trial or appellate courts, watch the panel discussion that occurred on Monday, April 3, 2023, to learn more about the appointment process, the California Judicial Mentor Program – created to demystify this process, as well as local mentoring programs that are available to applicants.