LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday announced the appointments of Karen M. Ackerson-Brazille, David R. Fields, Reva G. Goetz, Laura L. Laesecke, Sally L. Meloch, Shellie L. Samuels, and Paul T. Suzuki to judgeships in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Ackerson-Brazille, 45, of Los Angeles, has been a deputy attorney general for the California Attorney General’s Office since 2000. Previously, she was a sole practitioner from 1992 to 2000 and an associate for Albright, Yee and Schmit in 1992. Ackerson-Brazille was a law clerk for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 1989 to 1992, serving in the Department of Airports from 1990 to 1991. She was a paralegal for the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1985 to 1991. Ackerson-Brazille earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Whittier School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego. She fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on March 31, 2009. Ackerson-Brazille is a Republican.
Fields, 47, of Los Angeles, has been partner with Brown White and Newhouse since 2009. Previously, he was attorney for the Law Offices of James Spertus in 2008 and senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld from 2002 to 2008. Previously, he was an associate for Greenberg Glusker from 2001 to 2002 and assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1991 to 2001. Fields was an associate for Katten, Muchin and Rosenman in 1991 and Wyman Bautzer, Kuchel and Silbert from 1988 to 1991. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Fields fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Paul O’Neill. Fields is a Democrat.
Goetz, 56, of Sherman Oaks, has served as a commissioner for Los Angeles County Superior Court since 1991. Previously, she was a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1984 to 1991. Goetz was a sole practitioner from 1983 to 1984. Goetz earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Whittier School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Goetz fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Charles W. Stoll. Goetz is a Republican.
Laesecke, 42, of Long Beach, has been a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1992. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. Laesecke fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Alice C. Hill. Laesecke is a Democrat.
Meloch, 47, of La Cañada, has been an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice since 1989. She was an associate for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher from 1987 to 1989. Meloch earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Aviva K. Bobb. Meloch is a Democrat.
Samuels, 55, of West Hills, has served as deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1984, where she previously was a senior law clerk in 1984. Samuels earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Victoria G. Chaney to the Second District Court of Appeals. Samuels is a Democrat.
Suzuki, 61, of Los Angeles, has served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2006. He was a partner with Suzuki and Ito from 1984 to 2006. Prior to that, Suzuki was a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach from 1976 to 1978 and Riverside County Legal Services from 1974 to 1976. He was a sole practitioner from 1978 to 1984. Suzuki earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College. He fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on July 6, 2009. Suzuki is a Democrat.
The compensation for each position is $178,789.
