David B. Sapp

Candidate for Court of Appeal Justice, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, Seat 4

Gov. Gavin Newsom nominated David Sapp on August 7, 2026. He would serve as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, in Sacramento. He would fill the seat of Justice Ronald B. Robie, who retires when his term ends on January 4, 2027. The Commission on Judicial Appointments is chaired by Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, with Attorney General Rob Bonta. It confirmed the appointment, with no votes against, at its August 19, 2026 hearing. Because the seat's term is ending, the appointment then goes to the voters. The November 3, 2026 general-election ballot, in the Third District, carries a yes or no question on confirming Sapp. If voters approve, his term would begin on January 4, 2027. This is a vote to confirm a new appointee, not a vote on whether to keep a sitting justice. Sapp has not served as a judge before. Sapp, who is from Napa County, earned a bachelor's degree in public policy and linguistics from Duke University. He earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 2005. He was a staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, from 2009 to 2014. He then was that group's director of education advocacy, from 2014 to 2016. He was deputy policy director, and also assistant legal counsel, at the California State Board of Education, from 2016 to 2019. He has served in the Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom since 2019. He was a deputy legal affairs secretary from 2019 to 2021. He was chief deputy legal affairs secretary from 2021 to 2022. He has been legal affairs secretary since 2022. In that role, he advises the Governor on judicial picks and on legal policy. As of August 22, 2026, no group had been found campaigning for or against his confirmation.

Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.