Profile of Sonny S. Sandhu

The Honorable Sonny S. Sandhu was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 2, 2026, to serve as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, and was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on August 6, 2026.

Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeal, Justice Sandhu served as a Judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court from 2018 to 2026. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed him to the Superior Court on October 11, 2018. During his tenure, he presided over both criminal and civil matters and served in several court leadership positions, including Assistant Presiding Judge and, beginning in January 2025, Presiding Judge.

Before joining the bench, Justice Sandhu served as the Public Defender of Stanislaus County from 2017 to 2018. He previously served as Chief Deputy Public Defender from 2015 to 2017 and as a Deputy Public Defender from 2003 to 2015.

Justice Sandhu earned his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he served as President of the Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association and held leadership positions in several other student organizations. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Asian American Studies and Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Throughout his judicial career, Justice Sandhu has been active in judicial education, mentorship, and community outreach. He served on the Executive Committee of the California Judicial Mentorship Program and chaired several local outreach initiatives, including the Stanislaus County Court Observer Program in partnership with California State University, Stanislaus; Judges in the Classroom; and the First Impressions Program in partnership with the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

Justice Sandhu has also served on the Judicial Diversity Summit Advisory Committee, the California Judges Association Midyear and Annual Planning Committees, and the Judicial Council of California’s Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee. He served as President of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association (CAPAJA) and in several other leadership positions within the organization and currently serves on CAPAJA’s Strategic Planning Committee. He also serves as co-chair of the Judicial Section of the South Asian Bar Association of North America and on the Power of Democracy Board.

Justice Sandhu has presented on judicial and legal issues for numerous local and statewide organizations, including the Stanislaus County Bar Association, Wray Ladine Inn of Court, California Judges Association, and California Asian Pacific American Judges Association.