Division Seven

Start Date

Tue, 05/21/2024 - 12:00

Biography

Justice Natalie P. Stone is an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Seven. After Governor Gavin Newsom nominated her for the position, the Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed her in May 2024.

Justice Stone grew up in Charleston, South Carolina before attending Duke University, from which she graduated cum laude. She attended UCLA School of Law. During law school, she externed at the ACLU of Southern California and was co-chair of El Centro Legal, the law school’s student-coordinated network of volunteer legal aid projects, including homeless youth, landlord-tenant, and disability rights clinics.

After law school, Justice Stone clerked for the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima of the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. She then joined Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles, where she practiced complex civil litigation for 10 years. She also spearheaded the creation of the Los Angeles Food from the Bar, an annual volunteer and fundraising drive benefiting the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank that has since raised over $7 million from legal organizations across Los Angeles.

Justice Stone served as an appellate court attorney to the Honorable Thomas Willhite of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four, for five years. During her tenure in that position, she chaired Los Angeles County’s Food from the Bar steering committee and each year led the Court of Appeal’s award-winning participation in the campaign.

Justice Stone was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in July 2015. During her nine years as a superior court judge, she presided over juvenile dependency and criminal matters. She was actively involved in various court committees and the court’s efforts to reform pre-arraignment bail procedures, and she presided over the Teen Court at Venice High School. She also taught judicial education to California judges statewide.

Justice Stone is a member of the California Judge’s Association Appellate Committee, which vets new legislation that may affect the California Courts of Appeal.

In her free time, Justice Stone enjoys gardening, traveling, and playing beach volleyball.

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Natalie P. Stone

Job Title

Gonzalo C. Martinez

McGarrigle-T, Stephen — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:46:02 +0000

Gonzalo C. Martinez McGarrigle-T, … Fri, 03/22/2024 - 11:46

Division

Start Date

Mon, 07/10/2023 - 12:00

Biography

Justice Martinez is the Presiding Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Seven.

He served as an Associate Justice in Division Seven from 2023 until his confirmation as Presiding Justice in 2024 by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Justice Martinez previously served in the Governor’s Office as deputy judicial appointments secretary and also worked in legal affairs. Martinez advised on the appointment of almost 400 judges across California and frequently spoke on judicial appointments throughout the State.

He served as a deputy solicitor general in the Office of the Solicitor General in the California Attorney General’s Office. He represented the State in significant civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court and the California Supreme Court.

Justice Martinez was previously in private practice. He was a partner in the Appellate and Supreme Court Practice Group at Squire Patton Boggs (U.S.) LLP, practicing before appellate and trial courts nationwide. He also worked at Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP and Morrison & Foerster. As an attorney, he was certified as a specialist in Appellate Law by the State Bar of California. The Daily Journal recognized him as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California.”

He graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and literature, magna cum laude with highest honors. He earned a Master’s degree in English from Stanford University. He clerked for the Honorable Maxine M. Chesney at the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, and for the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, both after several years of practice.

Martinez was born in Porterville, California, where he attended public schools. He was an appellate lawyer representative and a district court lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council. Martinez also served on the national board of governors for the Hispanic National Bar Association and in leadership roles in several local bar associations. He also coached high school mock trial teams, and regularly speaks to law, college, and high school students.

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Presiding Justice

Laurie D. Zelon

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:47:17 +0000

Laurie D. Zelon JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:47

Division

Start Date

Thu, 09/25/2003 - 12:00

Biography

Associate Justice Laurie D. Zelon has served on the California Court of Appeal since 2003. She is a past President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and has held numerous other positions in the American Bar Association. She has written articles, received several awards, and is active in several statewide judicial committees. Justice Zelon is married and the mother of two sons, and enjoys outdoor activities, reading, and music in her spare time.

Laurie D. Zelon Associate Justice, Division Seven September 25, 2003 to August 31, 2020 Born in Durham, North Carolina EDUCATION J.D. – Harvard Law School, 1977 B.A. – Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1974 State Bar Admission: December 1977 JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7, September 25, 2003 – August 31, 2020, Appointed by Gov. Gray Davis Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2000 – 2003, Appointed by Gov. Gray Davis PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Partner, Morrison & Foerster, 1991 - 2000 Private Practice, 1977 – 2000 AWARDS  2010: Benjamin Aranda Access to Justice Award  2009: Shattuck-Price Outstanding Attorney Award  2000: Inaugural Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award, Pro Bono Institute of Washington, D.C.  2000: Loren Miller Legal Services Award, State Bar of California  1999: Charles Dorsey Award, National Legal

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Retirement Date

Mon, 08/31/2020 - 12:00

Job Title

Fred Woods

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:47:15 +0000

Fred Woods JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:47

Division

Start Date

Fri, 08/19/1988 - 12:00

Biography

Norvell Frederick (Fred) Woods, Jr.
Associate Justice, Division Seven
August 19, 1988 to March 31, 2015

Born March 31, 1935 in Corpus Christi, Texas

EDUCATION
LL.B., Loyola Law School, 1963
B.A., Rice University, Houston, TX, 1958

State Bar Admission: 1964

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7
August 19, 1988 – March 31, 2015, Appointed by Gov. Deukmejian
Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
1984 – 1988, Appointed by Gov. Deukmejian

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Partner, in firm initially known as Riedman, Dalessi, Henry & Woods
Long Beach, CA, 1970-1984
Sole Practitioner
Long Beach, CA 1969-1970
Associate, Miller & Bronn
Long Beach, CA 1964-1968
U.S. Naval Reserve – Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), 1958-1975

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Retirement Date

Tue, 03/31/2015 - 12:00

Job Title

Leon Thompson

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:47:09 +0000

Leon Thompson JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:47

Division

Start Date

Mon, 12/27/1982 - 12:00

Biography

Leon Thompson
Associate Justice, Division 7
December 27, 1982 to May 26, 1988

Born September 19, 1929 in Los Angeles, California
Died May 26, 1988

EDUCATION

LL.B., University of Southern California Law School, 1960
B.A., University of California at Los Angeles, 1955
Los Angeles City College

State Bar Admission January 11, 1961
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7
December 27, 1982 - May 26, 1988, Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
March 19, 1980 – December 27, 1982, Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Partner, Wright & Thompson, 1974 – 1980

Sole Practitioner, 1961 – 1974

Teacher, 6th Grade, 1955 – 1960

NOTE

Was the son of a minister and the 11th of 12

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Retirement Date

Thu, 05/26/1988 - 12:00

Job Title

Richard A. Schauer

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:47:03 +0000

Richard A. Schauer JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:47

Division

Start Date

Mon, 12/27/1982 - 12:00

Biography

Richard Schauer
Presiding Justice, Division 7
December 27, 1982 to April 2, 1984
Born September 18, 1929 in Los Angeles, California
Deceased May 10, 2017

EDUCATION
National College of State Trial Judges, 1967
LL.B., University of California at Los Angeles, 1955
Order of the Coif, Law Review
B.A., Occidental College, 1951
State Bar Admission December 21, 1955

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7
December 27, 1982 – April 2, 1984, Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
August 16, 1965 – December 27, 1982, Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Sr.
Judge, Los Angeles County Municipal Court
1963 – August 10, 1965, Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Sr.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Loverless, Schauer & Clarke, 1958 – 1962
Hurley, Glynn, Schauer & Criley, 1955

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Retirement Date

Mon, 04/02/1984 - 12:00

Job Title

Presiding Justice

Richard C. Neal

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:47:00 +0000

Richard C. Neal JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:47

Division

Start Date

Tue, 04/15/1997 - 12:00

Biography

Richard C. Neal Associate Justice, Division 7 April 15, 1997 to February 9, 2001

Born April 10, 1947 in San Francisco, California Died January 1, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

EDUCATION

J.D., University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall, 1973 B.A., Harvard University, 1969 State Bar Admission: December 20, 1973

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Private Judge, JAMS, 2001 - Present Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7, April 15, 1997 - February 9, 2001 Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, January 24, 1992 - April 15, 1997 (appointed by Governor Pete Wilson)

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Partner, Pettit & Martin, 1985 - 1992 Partner/Associate, Lawler, Felix & Hall, 1973 - 1985 English Teacher, 1969 - 1970

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Retirement Date

Fri, 02/09/2001 - 12:00

Job Title

Earl Johnson

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:46:55 +0000

Earl Johnson JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:46

Division

Start Date

Mon, 12/27/1982 - 12:00

Biography

Earl Johnson, Jr. was born on June 10, 1933, in Watertown, South Dakota. He served as an Associate Justice in Division 7 from December 27, 1982, to October 17, 2007.

In terms of his education, Johnson completed his Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 1955. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago School of Law in 1960. A year later, he achieved his Master of Laws from Northwestern University. Johnson was admitted to the State Bar in 1972.

Johnson's judicial experience is extensive. He served as an Associate Justice for the California Court of Appeal in the Second Appellate District, Division 7. His tenure lasted from December 27, 1982, to October 17, 2007, after being appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Before his judicial appointment, Johnson had a rich professional background. From 1969 to 1982, he was a Professor of Law at the USC Law Center in Los Angeles, California. Prior to that, he held several positions in Washington, DC. He was the Director of the Legal Services Program at the US Office of Economics Opportunity from 1966 to 1968, and its Deputy Director from 1965 to 1966. He also served as the Deputy Director of Neighborhood Legal Services from 1964 to 1965. Earlier in his career, from 1961 to 1964, he was a Trial Attorney and Special Assistant US Attorney at the US Department of Justice. Johnson also served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant Junior Grade from 1955 to 1958.

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Retirement Date

Wed, 10/17/2007 - 12:00

Job Title

Frank Y. Jackson

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:46:53 +0000

Frank Y. Jackson JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:46

Division

Start Date

Wed, 06/04/2008 - 12:00

Biography

Frank Y. Jackson

Associate Justice, Division Seven
June 4, 2008 to June 30, 2013

Born June 10, 1948 in Alhambra, California

EDUCATION
J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1973
B.A., University of Nevada, 1970
A.A., Antelope Valley College, 1968
State Bar Admission: December 20, 1973

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 7, June 4, 2008 – June 30, 2013, appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, January 1993 – May 2008, appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson
Judge, Municipal Court, Antelope Municipal Court District, Los Angeles County, January 1990 – February 1993, appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Partner, Cosgrove, Michelizzi, Schwabacher, Ward & Jackson, Lancaster, CA, 1973-1990

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Retirement Date

Sun, 06/30/2013 - 12:00

Job Title

Dennis M. Perluss

JCC — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 23:45:26 +0000

Dennis M. Perluss JCC Fri, 12/15/2023 - 15:45

Division

Start Date

Mon, 10/01/2001 - 12:00

Biography

Justice Perluss has served as Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Seven, since January 2003. He was appointed an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal (also in Division Seven of the Second Appellate District) in October 2001 after serving for two years as a Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, sitting in juvenile (dependency), misdemeanor and felony trial courts.

While a member of the trial and appellate courts, Justice Perluss has chaired the Judicial Council's Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee, served as co-chair of the Tribal Court-State Court Forum and participated on several Supreme Court Advisory Task Forces charged with developing new rules of professional conduct for attorneys. Justice Perluss has lectured to, and written for, other appellate and trial judges, practicing attorneys and law students on a wide range of legal topics. He has been a member of the American Law Institute since 1995.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Perluss actively practiced trial and appellate law for more than 24 years. He was a partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster, an international law firm, and Hufstedler & Kaus, a boutique litigation firm, emphasizing securities and other complex financial matters, as well as issues of constitutional law. He served as a Visiting Professor (Business Associations) at the UCLA School of Law and a Lecturer in Law (Law and the Family) at the USC Law Center. Prior to entering private practice, Justice Perluss was a law clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart and to Judge Shirley M. Hufstedler of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Active in professional and community affairs throughout his legal career, Justice Perluss was Deputy General Counsel of the Independent ("Christopher") Commission on the Los Angeles Police Department, President of the Barristers (Young Lawyers) of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Public Counsel and the Los Angeles County Bar Foundation.

A native Californian, born in Sacramento on May 12, 1948, Justice Perluss graduated "with great distinction" from Stanford University in 1970, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree magna cum laude in 1973 from Harvard Law School where he was Articles Editor for the Harvard Law Review.

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