Alumni

By Carla Meyer

Nolan Gerlach ’23 took an unusual route to practicing law in his home state.

Now a clerk for Alaska Supreme Court Associate Justice Jennifer Henderson, Gerlach was born in Anchorage but moved around with his father’s Air Force posts before settling in Dixon, California for high school.

Judge Esmeralda Zendejas ’06 is the first graduate of the King Hall Outreach Program (KHOP) known to have become a judge. After being appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2023, she serves on the bench of the San Joaquin Superior Court in Stockton, California. In 2024, she administered the State Oath at King Hall’s annual swearing-in ceremony. Before her appointment, she had most recently served as an attorney at the Department of Industrial Relations since 2022 and as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Attorney General’s Office from 2020 to 2022.

As a Partner at Nossaman LLP in Sacramento, Christopher D. Hughes ’07 typically represents trustees and creditors in bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He has also counseled clients on claims ranging from securities fraud to embezzlement to Ponzi schemes.

Johnene Stebbins ’96 won election to the Santa Clara County Superior Court in November.

A longtime Santa Clara County deputy district attorney, Stebbins defeated Chief Assistant District Attorney Jay Boyarsky, receiving 55% of the vote to Boyarsky’s 45%.

Stebbins filled a vacancy on the court created by Judge Vincent Chiarello’s retirement.

Rithwik Gupta ’25 and Steven Li ’26 made a strong showing at the invite-only MAC Cup II: American Bar Association M&A Negotiations Competition. The pair advanced from October’s initial round of 64 teams to November’s second round of 32 teams.

Gupta and Lee skillfully negotiated a draft purchase agreement and issues list from both buyer and seller perspectives. 

The Daily Journal has recognized Cheryl Wei ’11 as one of its “Top 40 Under 40” for 2024.

A partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Los Angeles, Wei focuses on entertainment law. She often has worked as production counsel, including for HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

In Nov. 5 California Assembly races, James Gallagher ’07 (R-Yuba City) was elected to a sixth term, Esmeralda Soria ’11 (D-Madera) won a second term, and Maggy Krell ’03 won a first. 

Gallagher, the Assembly's Republican Leader, defeated challenger Aaron Draper in District 3.

Janet Stone Herman ’84 is Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Covington & Burling LLP. Previously, she was Director of Attorney Development and Women’s Initiatives at Morrison & Foerster LLP. She served on the UC Davis School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors for nine years and was co-chair of the Student Outreach Committee.

What do you wish more people understood about diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Judge Kira Klatchko ’04 serves on the Superior Court of Riverside County. She was a partner at Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard, and Smith LLP and vice chair of its Appellate Practice when California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. appointed her in 2016. Upon graduating from King Hall, Judge Klatchko first worked as an associate at her parents’ law firm, Klatchko & Klatchko. She then joined Best, Best, and Krieger LLP, where she founded and chaired the firm’s appellate group.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Benjamin Azar ’12 as an Orange County Superior Court judge.

Azar has served as an Orange County deputy public defender since 2013.

Read governor’s full press release on new judicial appointments.