Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, the 15 judges of the superior court throughout the state, including some of the courts in Northern California, Here’s what you should know about some of the appointed superior court judges: jobs with a salary of $232,399. Sacramento Superior Court Alin Cintean has been a commissioner of the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2020. Cintean is an alumnus of Sacramento State University who went on to complete his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law. He was named “Attorney of the Year” by the Sacramento County Conflict Criminal Defenders of the Year for 2017. He also served as a professor and deputy district attorney in the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. “I am grateful and humbled by the trust Gov. Newsom placed in me, a child who spoke broken English when he immigrated to the United States 28 years ago,” Cintean said. “I look forward to serving the Sacramento community in this new role.” He is not registered with a party. Butte County Superior Court Commissioner Virginia Gingery has been a Butte County Superior Court commissioner since 2021, and before that, she was a research attorney there. He also became a professor at Cal Northern School of Law, where he earned his law degree.
He is a registered Democrat. Placer County Superior Court Melissa Begley has served as a Placer County Superior Court commissioner since 2023. She previously served as a deputy district attorney for the Placer County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2023. Begley earned her law degree from the McGeorge School of Law. He is a registered Republican. San Joaquin County Superior Court Allan F. Jose has been a sole practitioner since 2005. He previously served as a deputy district attorney for the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2005. He earned his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law. Jose is a Democrat. Sabrina Schneweis-Coe has also been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. He has been the court’s supervising probate attorney since 2019 and previously served in private practice. He also earned his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law and is a Democrat. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge David Hood has served as a Merced County Superior Court judge since 2023 and is currently appointed judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court. He previously served as a legal research attorney in Stanislaus County Superior Court and as deputy county counsel in Merced County’s Counsel’s Office.
He earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Hood is a Democrat. Sutter County Superior Court John Hinely, of Colusa County, has served as a commissioner for the Superior Courts of Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, and Tehama Counties since 2022. He has been an adjunct professor at Cal Northern School of Law and previously served as a judge in the Pro Colusa County Superior Court. He earned his law degree from the Cal Northern School of Law.
He was registered as not wanting a party. Jesse Santana has also been appointed to serve as a judge on the Sutter County Superior Court. Santana served in private practice and as a deputy district attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. He earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a Democrat.
Appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, the 15 judges of the superior court throughout the state, including some of the courts in Northern California,
Here’s what you should know about some of the appointed superior court judges: jobs with a salary of $232,399.
Sacramento Superior Court
Alin Cintean has been a commissioner of the Sacramento County Superior Court since 2020. Cintean is an alumnus of Sacramento State University who went on to complete his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law.
He was named “Attorney of the Year” by the Sacramento County Conflict Criminal Defenders of the Year for 2017.
He also served as a professor and a deputy district attorney in the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office.
“I am grateful and humbled by the trust Gov. Newsom placed in me, a child who spoke broken English when he immigrated to the United States 28 years ago,” Cintean said. “I look forward to serving the Sacramento community in this new role.”
He is not registered with a party.
Butte County Supreme Court
Virginia Gingery has been a Butte County Superior Court commissioner since 2021, and before that, she was a research attorney there.
He also became a professor at Cal Northern School of Law, where he earned his law degree.
He is a registered Democrat.
Superior Court of Placer County
Melissa Begley has served as a Placer County Superior Court commissioner since 2023. She previously served as a deputy district attorney for the Placer County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2023.
Begley earned his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law.
He is a registered Republican.
Supreme Court of San Joaquin County
Allan F. Jose has been a sole practitioner since 2005. He previously served as a deputy district attorney in the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2005.
He earned his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law.
Jose is a Democrat.
Sabrina Schneweis-Coe has also been appointed to serve as a judge in the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
He has been the court’s supervising probate attorney since 2019 and previously served in private practice.
He also earned his law degree from the McGeorge School of Law and is a Democrat.
Supreme Court of Stanislaus County
David Hood has served as a Merced County Superior Court judge since 2023 and is currently appointed judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
He previously served as a legal research attorney in Stanislaus County Superior Court and as deputy county counsel in Merced County’s Counsel’s Office.
He earned his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Hood is a Democrat.
Sutter County Supreme Court
John Hinely, of Colusa County, has served as a commissioner for the Superior Courts of Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, and Tehama Counties since 2022. He has been an adjunct professor at Cal Northern School of Law and previously served as Judge Pro Tem for Colusa County Superior Court.
He earned his law degree from the Cal Northern School of Law.
He was registered as not wanting a party.
Jesse Santana has also been appointed to serve as a judge on the Sutter County Superior Court.
Santana served in private practice and as a deputy district attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.
He earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
He is a Democrat.
