Gov. Newsom names judges to Sacramento County court. Both served as prosecutors
Two new judges for Sacramento County were among 16 appointees named this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom to superior courts around the state.
Philip Ferrari, 52, of Sacramento, and Satnam Rattu, 42, of Folsom, were added to the local bench, according to a news release from the Sacramento County Superior Court.
“Both appointees bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge that will benefit Sacramento County,” Presiding Court Judge Michael G. Bowman was quoted in the release.
Ferrari fills the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Laurie Earl to the Court of Appeal. Rattu joins the bench after the retirement of Judge Kevin R. Culhane.
According to the release, Ferrari started his law career in 1996. He has been serving as senior assistant attorney general at the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse in the state Attorney General’s Office. He was special assistant to the attorney general from 2019 to 2021.
Rattu has served as a deputy prosecutor at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office since 2008.
Superior courts have trial jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. Judicial candidates must be an attorney admitted to practice law in California or have served as a judge of a court of record in California for at least 10 years immediately preceding election or appointment, according to court officials.
Court of Appeal nominations also posted
Newsom also announced his nomination of Justice Therese Stewart to serve as presiding justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Two; Judge Gregory Weingart as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division One; and Judge Victor Viramonte as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight.
Among the 16 Superior Court judges appointed, two are in Alameda County; one in Contra Costa County; three in Los Angeles County; one in Madera County; two in Riverside County; two in Sacramento County; one in San Bernardino County; two in Santa Barbara County; one in Santa Cruz County; and one in Tuolumne County.