Gov. Schwarzenegger Appoints Seven to Los Angeles County Superior Court

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Huey P. Cotton, David S. Cunningham III, Victor H. Greenberg, Howard L. Halm, Maren E. Nelson, Michael Terrell and Geanene Yriarte to judgeships in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Cotton, 52, of Tarzana, has served as a shareholder for Cozen O'Connor since 2001 and previously as an associate then member from 1988 to 2001. Prior to that, he worked as a senior trial attorney for the Defenders Association of Philadelphia from 1983 to 1988 and as a staff attorney for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1983. Cotton earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Temple University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David Horwitz. Cotton is a Democrat.

Cunningham, 53, of Los Angeles, has served as a principal at Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson since 2007 and as a partner at Kelly Lytton & Vann since 2005. From 1994 to 2005, he was of counsel for Jackson and Lewis and, from 1989 to 1994, Cunningham was a sole practitioner. Additionally, from 1984 to 1989, he was an associate in the Beverly Hills office of Finley Kumble and, from 1983 to 1984, Cunningham was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Terry J. Hatter Jr. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Cunningham fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Xenophon F. Lang. Cunningham is a Democrat.

Greenberg, 48, of Los Angeles, has served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2000. From 1995 to 2000, he was the Children's Services Inspector General for Los Angeles County and, from 1986 to 1995, Greenberg was an attorney representing the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Greenberg fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael R. Hoff.  Greenberg is a Democrat.

Halm, 66, of Los Angeles, has worked as an equity partner for Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker since 2000. Prior to that, he was  a shareholder, partner and associate for Breidenbach, Buckley, Huchting, Halm & Hamblet from 1975 to 2000 and a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice from 1969 to 1975. Halm earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Leon S. Kaplan. Halm is a Democrat.

Nelson, 52, of Hermosa Beach, has served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2004. From 1987 to 2004, she was an associate, then partner for Morrison & Foerster and, from 1981 to 1987, Nelson was an associate at Overton, Lyman & Prince. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College. Nelson fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Deanne Smith Myers. Nelson is a Democrat.

Terrell, 51, of Northridge, has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office since 1991. Prior to that, he was an associate for Rosen, Wachtell & Gilbert from 1985 to 1991 and for Reich, Adell & Crost from 1983 to 1985. Terrell earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He fills the position created by the retirement of Judge Ray Hart. Terrell is a Democrat.

Yriarte, 39, of Covina, has served as a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office since 1997. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  Yriarte fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Alexander H. Williams. Yriarte is a Republican.

The compensation for each position is $178,789.