Governor Gavin Newsom announced his nomination of two Court of Appeal Justices: Judge Charles A. Smiley as Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One and Judge Nathan R. Scott as Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three. He also announced appointment of 10 Superior Court Judges, which include one in Orange County.

Fourth District Court of Appeal

Judge Nathan R. Scott, of Los Angeles County, has been nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three. He has served as a Judge at the Orange County Superior Court since 2012. Judge Scott served as a Senior Appellate Court Attorney and Appellate Court Attorney at the Fourth District Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2012. He was an Associate at Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP from 2003 to 2004 and at Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 1999 to 2003. Judge Scott earned a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice William W. Bedsworth. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta and Senior Presiding Justice Manuel Ramirez. Judge Scott is a Democrat.

Orange County Superior Court

Elia Anwar Naqvi, of Orange County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Orange County Superior Court. Naqvi has been a Sole Practitioner since 2008. She served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General in 2007. Naqvi served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2001 to 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Ontario. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David L. Belz. Naqvi is a Democrat.

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