Here are the elected and appointed judicial officers in the Inland Empire in 2024.
Elected judges
- Supervising Deputy District Attorney Michelle Lauron won election to San Bernardino County with 77% of the votes. She will be sworn in on Jan. 6.
- Commissioner Elizabeth Tucker won election to Riverside Superior Court’s open judicial seat with 58% of the vote. As commissioner, she handled juvenile dependency cases in Larson Justice Center’s Department 1A.
Appointments
Four judges were appointed to Riverside, six to San Bernardino.
- Arthur Hester, previously a commissioner and a prosecutor, was appointed to Riverside. He oversees Department 3N in Larson Justice Center, handling felony calendars.
- Sharunne Lavonne Foster, previously a commissioner and a prosecutor, was appointed to Riverside. She oversees Department F301, a domestic violence courtroom in the Riverside Family Law Court.
- Sophia Choi, previously a prosecutor, was appointed to Riverside. She oversees Department M204, a domestic violence/adoptions and parental custody courtroom in the Menifee Justice Center.
- Scott Williams, former prosecutor, was appointed to Riverside Superior Court. He oversees Department 41, a mental health department in the Hall of Justice.
- James Taylor, previously a criminal defense attorney based in Banning, was appointed to San Bernardino. He was assigned to Department R20 in Rancho Cucamonga, and handles trial hearings and arraignments.
- Kathleen Curtis, former Riverside prosecutor, was selected to serve on San Bernardino Superior Court. She oversees Department V6 in Victorville, handling criminal trials.
- Albert Hsueh, San Bernardino supervising deputy public defender, was appointed to San Bernardino Superior Court. He was assigned to Department V5, in Victorville, handling arraignments, trial readiness hearings and trials.
- Christopher Hayes, an attorney with the California Court of Appeal, was appointed to San Bernardino. He is not yet assigned to a department.
Commissioners
Four selected commissioners join San Bernardino Superior Court.
- Jason Wilkinson, formerly a prosecutor, was selected to serve on San Bernardino Superior Court. He oversees Department B2, in Barstow, handling domestic violence hearings.
- Laurel Hoehn, former county counsel, was selected to oversee Department F6, in Fontana, handling landlord and tenant cases, small claims appeals and parking appeals.
- Michael Lough, a former Riverside prosecutor, was appointed to Department S-52, a family law courtroom.
- Riley Todd, a former prosecutor, was selected to oversee Department S43, a family law courtroom.
San Bernardino has five judicial vacancies, and needs 27 more judicial officers to manage its caseload, according to a Dec. 13 judicial appointment announcement.
