Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of 18 California superior court judges, which include one in Fresno County, four in Los Angeles County, one in Monterey County, two in Orange County, four in Sacramento County, two in San Bernardino County, one in San Joaquin County, one in Santa Clara County, one in Sonoma County and one in Stanislaus County.

Isabel Apkarian, 44, of Newport Beach, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Apkarian has served as a Commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2021. She served as Senior Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2003 to 2020. She was a Budget Management Research Analyst in the Orange County Executive’s Office from 1998 to 1999. Apkarian earned a Juris Doctor degree from Whittier Law School. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Franz E. Miller. Apkarian is a Democrat.  

Carmen R. Luege, 62, of Santa Ana, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Luege has served as a Commissioner at the Orange County Superior Court since 2009. She served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California from 1992 to 2009 and was an Associate at O'Melveny & Myers from 1984 to 1990. Luege earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Geoffrey T. Glass. Luege is registered without party preference.

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