Gov. Brown Selects New Supreme Court Justice

A Stanford Law School professor has just been selected to become the newest associate justice of the California Supreme Court.

Gov. Jerry Brown chose Mariano-Florentino Cuellar for the position.

Once Cuellar is confirmed, he will be the third Latino to serve on the California Supreme Court. He will also be the first justice to be born in Mexico.

Cuellar moved to the Imperial Valley at the age of 14.

Santa Barbara County Judge Frank Ochoa said this appointment is highly significant and an historical event for the Golden State.

“He will come with a background having lived that experience and will have a perspective that has not been previously been known on the justices of the Supreme Court. I think it’s going to be a very significant addition,” he said.

If confirmed by a three-person panel, Cuellar will start in January.

Ochoa believes this step could propel Cuellar to one day be appointed to the United States Supreme Court.