Profile of Juliet O. Macaulay
Justice Juliet O. Macaulay was nominated to the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three by Governor Gavin Newsom and confirmed by the unanimous vote of the Commission on Judicial Appointments on August 20, 2026. She brings twenty-two years of judicial and quasi-judicial experience to this role, having adjudicated cases with the Orange County Superior Court and with California’s administrative hearing agencies.
Prior to her elevation, Justice Macaulay served as a trial court judge in Orange County. She first oversaw a criminal calendar, conducting jury trials, criminal law and motion, and arraignments at the West Justice Center from 2022 to January 2024. She subsequently oversaw a family law calendar handling dissolutions, legal separation, child custody and visitation, domestic violence, paternity and property issues at the Lamoreaux Justice Center and the Central Justice Center from January 2024 until her elevation.
Public service has been the cornerstone of Justice Macaulay’s career, and before her judicial appointment in 2022, she held various leadership roles with the state. From February 2020 to July 2022, she served as Deputy Director/Chief Administrative Law Judge with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), where she led the Administrative Law Judges and staff at the CDSS State Hearing Division in setting statewide hearing policies and adjudicating cases for applicants and recipients of California’s public social service programs. She also served at CDSS as a Presiding Judge from 2016 to 2020; and as an Administrative Law Judge from 2012 to 2016.
Before joining the CDSS team, Justice Macaulay served as a Deputy Commissioner conducting parole release, rescission, and revocation hearings at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Board of Parole Hearings from 2004 to 2011, when she was appointed by Governor Brown to the Parole Board as a Commissioner and began chairing life parole consideration hearings. Justice Macaulay also practiced in multiple subject areas as a solo practitioner from 1997 to 2004, advocating for clients in federal and state courts, as well as before various administrative bodies.
Always mindful of, and grateful for the support she has received from so many, Justice Macaulay pays it forward through consistent participation in community service, mentorship and civic engagement. She served on the Executive Board of the California Judges Association; serves on the Board of the Orange County Association of Affinity Judicial Officers (OCAAJO); and was a member of various Superior Court committees including the Equal Access to Justice and Elimination of Bias Committee, the Judicial Mentor Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Grand Jury Recruitment and Selection Committee. Outside of the courts, Justice Macaulay actively mentors attorneys and law students; supports educational scholarship programs; serves as an Advisory Board Member for a local Legal Magnate program and works to ensure a pipeline for students from underserved communities.
Justice Macaulay has been recognized with awards and honors such as the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association’s Judicial Legal Excellence Award, California Association of Black Lawyers’ Legendary Leader in Justice Award, and CDSS’ Service Excellence Awards.
Justice Macaulay and her husband are proud parents to two daughters, who are both pursuing legal careers.