Monday, September 21, 2026

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Judges Giza, Pánuco Named to C.A. Posts

By a MetNews Staff Writer

ALEXANDER GIZA

Court of Appeal appointee

CINDY PÁNUCO

Court of Appeal appointee

Two Los Angeles Superior Court judges—Alexander Giza and Cindy Pánuco—have been nominated to serve as associate justices in Div. Three of this district’s Court of Appeal, the Office of Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday.

If confirmed by the three-member Commission on Judicial Appointments—comprised of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and this district’s senior presiding justice, Francis Rothschild—Gaza will replace Justice Anne H. Egerton, who will retire on Oct, 11, and Pánuco will succeed Rashida Adams who was elevated to the post of presiding justice of Div. Three.

Both are Democrats.

Giza was appointed to the Superior Court in 2018 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. From 2015 until his appointment to the bench, he was a partner in Hueston Hennigan, after serving in that capacity in Russ August & Kabat from 2009-14, and as an associate at Irell & Manella from 2001-09.

His law degree is from UCLA.

Pánuco has been on the Superior Court since 2024, having been appointed to the post by Newsom. She was of counsel at Perez & Perez at the time and was with Los Angeles Public Counsel from 2019-23. She received her law degree from Loyola.

Also announced on Friday were three other Court of Appeal nominations: those of Alameda Superior Court Judge Brian Goldman to the First District’s Division Two, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Adam Hofmann to the First District’s Div. Four, and Orange Superior Court Judge Maria Daghlian Hernandez to the Fourth District’s Div. Three.