Judicial Mentor Program FAQs
The Governor’s Office wants to expand the pool of qualified judicial applicants from diverse legal backgrounds and diverse communities. It believes that this program may help encourage prospective applicants to complete the application process, particularly those who may self-select out of the application process.
The Court will pair admitted mentees with a mentor judge. The mentor judge will help demystify the judicial appointment process, answer questions about the judicial application and vetting process, and suggest new skills and experiences to improve the mentee's suitability for appointment.
You must apply. If you meet the qualifications below, please download an application.
No, applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Assignments will be made two to four times per year. The mentorship period will last for 12 months or until submission of a judicial application, whichever occurs sooner.
Judicial Mentor Program mentees must possess the following qualifications:
- Have practiced law in the State of California for at least nine years,
- Be in good standing with the State Bar of California, and
- Be committed to public service.
Those from legal backgrounds and communities underrepresented in the judiciary
are particularly encouraged to apply.
The program will consider common areas of legal practice, affinity bar memberships, and other factors when making mentee/mentor pairings. There is no guarantee that mentees will be assigned a particular mentor judge whose interests closely align with theirs.
Not necessarily. Mentees will be evaluated for their eligibility for the program and assigned based on the availability of judicial mentors.
No. This program is designed for attorneys who have not yet submitted an application for judicial appointment.
The program is not intended to replace any existing program or previous relationship. Judicial Mentor Program participation should complement those efforts.
You will receive an email from the Judicial Mentor Program Committee.
No. The program is not designed to give certain applicants an inside track to appointment. Applicants who do not participate in this program are not disadvantaged. Assigned judicial mentors are not expected to serve as personal references for the mentees. Nor is participation an endorsement of a candidate by Alameda County Superior Court.
Yes. Members of the Governor’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee (JSAC) will not serve as mentors.
Send questions via email to judicialmentors@alameda.courts.ca.gov.