Commission to Consider Appointments to Courts of Appeal

The Commission on Judicial Appointments will hold in-person hearings in San Francisco on Nov. 16 starting at 2:00 p.m. to consider two appointments by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The commission will consider the following appointments:

• 2:00 p.m.: Brian Goldman, as associate justice of the First Appellate District, Division Two
• 3:00 p.m.: Adam Hofmann, as associate justice of the First Appellate District, Division Four

The hearing webcasts will be streamed live on the California Courts Newsroom .

The state Constitution specifies that a gubernatorial appointment to the Court of Appeal is effective when confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

The commission members who will consider the appointments are California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero (Chair); California Attorney General Rob Bonta; and AdministrativePresiding Justice Jim Humes.

Appointee Biographies
Brian Goldman would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Marla J. Miller. He has served in multiple roles at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom including as the Governor's chief deputy legal affairs secretary since 2023 and as deputy legal affairs secretary from 2021 to 2023. He previously worked in private practice at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner from 2018 to 2021 and as an associate from 2013 to 2018. He served as a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court from 2012 to 2013, as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice from 2011 to 2012, and as a law clerk at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 2010 to 2011. He received his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.

Adam Hofmann would fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Tracie Brown to presiding justice. He has served as the deputy judicial appointments secretary at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom since 2023. Mr. Hofmann held multiple roles at Hanson Bridgett LLP including as Partner, Senior Counsel, and Associate from 2006 to 2023. He was an associate at Kaufman & Logan LLP from 2005 to 2006. He was an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 2012 to 2018. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Testimony and Comment
Requests to testify or written comments on the appointment must be received by the commission no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 6 (five court days prior to the hearing). Anyone wishing to testify before the commission must state that request in writing and include a summary of the facts on which any testimony or opinion will be based.

Submissions via email to [email protected] are strongly encouraged. Hard copies are not required.

If you would like to mail your request, you may also reach the commission at:

Commission on Judicial Appointments
c/o Chief Justice of California
Supreme Court of California
350 McAllister Street
San Francisco, California 94102
Attention: Secretary to the Commission

Guidelines for the Commission on Judicial Appointments are published in the appendix to the California Rules of Court and are posted on the California Courts website.