Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

3 days ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

3 days ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

3 days ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

3 days ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

3 days ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

4 days ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

4 days ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

4 days ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

4 days ago
New Fresno Judge Champions Equal Access to Justice
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 months ago on
December 18, 2024

Attorney Maria G. Diaz is now a Fresno County Superior Court judge. (GV Wire Composite/David Rodriguez)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Maria G. Diaz splits her time as an attorney between Los Angeles and Fresno but considers the Central Valley home.

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Diaz, 55, to the Fresno County Superior Court bench.

“I really believe in equal access to justice and diversity on the bench. And I think it’s important that the bench reflect the population of the communities they serve. And I know that Latinas and Latinos are really underrepresented on the bench. And so I wanted to help in terms of an access to justice issue,” Diaz told GV Wire about her motivations to apply for a judgeship.

When given the green light by Newsom’s office, Diaz shared the news with family and friends. Her husband, Christopher Bencomo, is a Fresno doctor.

“It was just not just my success, but their success,” Diaz said.

Although the governor’s news release listed her from Los Angeles, she is registered to vote in Fresno. While the law does not require a judge to live in the county in which he or she presides, it is an unusual, but not unprecedented move.

From Calexico to Civil Rights Law

Diaz grew up in Calexico, along the Mexican border.

“It’s also a big agricultural community like Fresno. And I became interested in the law early on and wanted to help people. And I figured out that the law was a very powerful vehicle for social change,” Diaz said.

The similarity of her hometown and Fresno is one of the reasons she applied to be on the Fresno bench.

She attended her undergraduate and law school at Stanford, with a stop at the Harvard Kennedy School in between.

“Making a difference in people’s lives is important to me,” Diaz said of her civil rights focus.

Her experience will make her a very empathetic judge, she said.

“I also think it’s important to respect everyone’s human dignity, even when you have to make difficult decisions such as potentially incarceration. I think hopefully it will be an asset,” Diaz said.

Diaz, a registered Democrat, replaces Timothy Kams, who retired in May 2023. She is up for re-election in 2026.

A judge’s salary is $244,727.

Fresno County now only has one vacancy for its 47 judgeships. Judge Adolfo Corona retired in April. He currently faces criminal sexual assault charges, and returns to court Jan. 9.

Newsom has now picked 15 judges to the Fresno County Superior Court bench.

Worked With Gloria Allred

Diaz was “of counsel” for Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, as in Gloria Allred — meaning she was affiliated, but didn’t work there full time.

“It was a great experience. The Allred Firm gave me much independence and wonderful opportunities to help the workers of California,” Diaz said.

Diaz also has her own practice, the Diaz Canon Law Firm, with offices in Beverly Hills and Fresno.

She has homes in both Fresno and west Los Angeles, but plans to move to Fresno permanently

“I consider home both, actually. But I my heart is in Fresno, and that’s why I start a judicial appointment there,” Diaz said.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

DON'T MISS

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

DON'T MISS

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

UP NEXT

Trump to Sign Tax-Cut and Spending Bill in July 4 Ceremony

UP NEXT

Madre Fire Spurs Evacuations Across 3 Counties, Grows to More Than 70,000 Acres

UP NEXT

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

UP NEXT

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

UP NEXT

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

UP NEXT

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

8 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

14 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

14 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

14 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

14 hours ago

Musk Announces Forming of ‘America Party’ in Further Break From Trump

14 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 59, Including 21 Children

14 hours ago

California’s Politics Drifts Right While New York’s Leans Left

15 hours ago

How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again

2 days ago

What’s Caitlin Clark Worth to the WNBA? A Lot More Than Her $78,066 Salary.

2 days ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The I...

7 hours ago

A logo is displayed over a door at the U.S. headquarters of the social media company TikTok in Culver City, California, U.S. January 17, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected US Sale, the Information Reports

Boxes of aid are stacked as Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it has commenced operations to begin distribution of aid, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Hamas Government Office Rejects US Accusation of Involvement in Gaza Aid Site Attack

A volunteer searches for flood victims after deadly flooding in Kerr County, Texas, U.S., July 6, 2025. REUTERS/Sergio Flores
8 hours ago

Death Toll From Texas Floods Reaches 78, Trump Plans Visit

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk listens as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with House Republicans at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington, DC, U.S. on November 13, 2024. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Trump Calls Musk’s Formation of New Party “Ridiculous” and Confusing

A 22-year-old suspected DUI driver crashed into a parked CHP motorcycle and tow truck on Highway 99 near Fresno, narrowly missing an officer and bystanders, CHP said Saturday, July 5, 2025. (CHP)
14 hours ago

Fresno DUI Driver Slams Into CHP Motorcycle, Tow Truck on Highway 99

A service member of a drone unit of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces controls a heavy combat drone while it flies over positions of Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk Region, Ukraine June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

Russia Downs 120 Ukrainian Drones Overnight, Defense Ministry Says

An Israeli tank maneuvers in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 6, 2025. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)
14 hours ago

Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar for Gaza Talks Ahead of Netanyahu Trip to US

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned nearly 80,000 acres as of Sunday, July 6, 2025, morning, prompting widespread evacuation orders and warnings across three counties. (CalFire)
14 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to Nearly 80,000 Acres, 30% Contained

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend