Lisa Rodriguez

Candidate for Court of Appeal Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division 1, Seat 10

Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated Lisa R. Rodriguez on August 7, 2026. She would serve as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One, in San Diego. She would fill the seat of Justice Terry B. O'Rourke. He retires when his term ends on January 4, 2027. Her hearing before the Commission on Judicial Appointments was set for August 20, 2026, in San Francisco. As of August 22, 2026, sources available did not confirm what the commission decided for her specifically. The commission's August 19 release had covered four other appellate appointees, but not her. Because the seat's term is ending, her appointment must go to voters. This means a yes or no voter-confirmation question on the November 3, 2026 ballot, in the Fourth District. If it is approved, her term would begin on January 4, 2027. Rodriguez earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego. She earned a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, in 1995. She earned a Master of Laws from Chapman University Fowler School of Law. She was a deputy city attorney. That was in the San Diego City Attorney's Office, from 1996 to 1998. She was then a deputy district attorney. That was in the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, from 1998 to 2015. Gov. Jerry Brown put her on the San Diego County Superior Court on March 27, 2015. She was sworn in on April 2, 2015. That seat had come open when Judge Susan D. Huguenor retired. She has served there since. She has also been an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law, since 2014. No group was found campaigning for or against her confirmation, in searches done so far.

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