Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of three judges Wednesday to fill vacancies created by judicial retirements in the San Joaquin Valley.

Here is a look at the appointments:

Merced County

Ashley Albertoni Sausser will serve as a judge in Merced County Superior Court following the retirement of Judge Shelly Seymour.

Albertoni Sausser has been an attorney at Albertoni & Associates since 2015. She worked in multiple roles at Fagalde, Albertoni & Flores from 2010 to 2015, including as an attorney and law clerk. She was a part-time lecturer at the California State University, Stanislaus in 2011.

Albertoni Sausser received a Juris Doctor degree from Humphreys Drivon School of Law. She is a Democrat.

Tulare County

Frank Ruiz is being elevated to the Tulare County Superior Court bench following the retirement of Judge Brett R. Alldredge. Ruiz has served as a deputy county counsel at the Kings County Counsel’s Office since 2014.

He also worked as an associate for the Children’s Advocacy Group in 2014. Ruiz was a volunteer attorney that same year for the Riverside County Public Defender.

Ruiz received a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law. He is a Democrat.

San Joaquin County

Adam Ramirez, of San Joaquin County, is joining the bench in the San Joaquin County Superior Court. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jose L. Alva.

Ramirez has been a shareholder at Hakeem, Ellis, Marengo & Ramirez in Stockton since 2023 after being an associate from 2008-2022. He was an adjunct professor at Humphreys University Drivon School of Law from 2019 to 2024.

Ramirez was an attorney at the Family Law Service Center from 2007 to 2008 and in the Law Office of Christopher K. Eley those same years.

He received a Juris Doctor degree from the Humphreys University Drivon School of Law. Ramirez is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $244,727.

Newsom appointed 16 Superior Court judges on Wednesday. Read about the others at this link.