On February 15th, California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Patricia Guerrero, a judge in the San Diego Court of Appeals and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, to the State Supreme Court. Thus, Guerrero can make history as the first Latina to serve on the California Supreme Court.

An Imperial Valley native, Judge Guerrero, 50, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford Law School before starting her legal career. She served as an attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office and as a partner in a law firm before being appointed to the San Diego Superior Court in 2013.

In the act of appointment, Governor Newsom stated that: “Her extraordinary journey and nomination to serve as the first Latina justice on the bench of our state’s highest court is an inspiration to all of us and a testament to the California Dream’s promise of opportunity for all to thrive, regardless of background or ZIP code”, according to Latin Rebels publication.

Justices of the State Supreme Court are appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by the “Committee on Judicial Appointments”, which consists of the President of the Court of Justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the State Attorney General, Rob Bonta, and the Judge President of the State Court of Appeal, Manuel A. Ramirez.

If confirmed, Guerrero will replace Associate Judge Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, appointed to the court by former Governor Jerry Brown, also a Democrat, who resigned to become chairman of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Since then, the current governor has been under increasing pressure to name the state's first Latino member.

“The seven-member court is currently made up of four justices nominated by Democrats and two by Republicans. Another Brown nominee, Justice Leondra Kruger, is being considered by President Joe Biden to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court”.

Statewide there is a significant shortage of Latino lawyers and judges, even though Latinos make up largely the diversity of California, a Democratic-leaning state. In four Latino-majority California counties — Colusa, Kings, Madera and Merced — there are no Latino judges in any higher court.

Senator María Elena Durazo, president of California's Latino Legislative Caucus, declared that “Latinas make up nearly 20 percent of California’s population, but we are underrepresented in nearly every industry, including the California judiciary. […] When Latinas are absent from this critical branch of government, our experiences and perspectives are excluded, and this ripples throughout our communities in so many other ways”, still according to the publication of Latino Rebels. 

Gavin Newson also made a positive contribution to American history by naming Martin Jenkins to the Supreme Court in 2020, the first openly gay judge in the state, and the third black person to serve on the Court.

Retired California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno held that “with her extensive experience handling complex litigation matters, intellectual rigor and commitment to fairness and equality, Justice Guerrero is well-equipped to navigate the most complex legal issues in our court system and will make an excellent addition to our state’s highest court”.

In a statement, the appointed judge said she was “deeply honored” by the appointment, which, if confirmed, could have “a positive impact on the lives of Californians across the state”.