Michelle C. Kim

Justice Michelle C. Kim was nominated to serve on the Second District Court of Appeal, Division One by Governor Gavin Newsom. She was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments after receiving an "exceptionally well qualified" rating by the Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation. 

Justice Kim was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.  She served as Assistant Supervising Judge in limited jurisdiction for the Criminal Division and Site Judge at several courthouses.  She also presided over an unlimited civil calendar at the Spring Street Courthouse and an unlimited civil independent calendar court at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, both in downtown Los Angeles. 

Justice Kim received her B.A. in American Studies from Stanford University. She received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law.

After law school, Justice Kim served as a Deputy Public Defender and then Deputy Alternate Public Defender for Los Angeles County.  She tried numerous felony jury trial cases to verdict as sole trial counsel representing indigent clients.  Just prior to her appointment to the bench, she served as a departmental Head Deputy at the Alternate Public Defender’s Office.

Justice Kim is currently Vice Chair of the Los Angeles Judicial Selection Advisory Committee (LA JSAC) and is active in local bar associations and community organizations, including the Executive Committee of the LACBA Litigation Section.

Justice Kim was honored with the 2025 Judicial Service Award from the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA) for her service to the bar and bench. Justice Kim is a Girl Scout Gold Awardee.