CA Gov Appoints 1st Openly Gay Appellate Judge

California Governor Jerry Brown has appointed a former advisor on legal affairs to a seat on the 1st District Court of Appeals, 4th division. If confirmed by the Council on Judicial Appointments, James Humes will be the first openly gay person on the appellate bench in California.

From the official announcement from the Governor:

Humes, 53, of San Francisco, has served as executive secretary for legal affairs, administration and policy at the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. since 2011. He was chief deputy attorney general at the Office of Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2007 to 2011. Humes served in multiple positions at the California Department of Justice from 1993 to 2007, including chief assistant of the civil division and senior assistant attorney general of the health, education and welfare section. He served in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1987 to 1993. Humes was an associate at Banta Hoyt Banta Greene Hannen and Everall PC from 1986 to 1987 and at Jay Stuart Radetsky PC from 1983 to 1984. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Denver, a Master of Social Science degree from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University.

Gov. Brown also appointed openly lesbian Paula Rosenstein to a seat on the San Diego Superior Court.