Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed two familiar names in legal circles, his office announced Wednesday.

Newsom elevated Steven Crass from court commissioner to a full Fresno County Superior Court judge.

And Roger Wilson, best known as the attorney for the Fresno Police Officers Association, was appointed Tulare County Superior Court judge.

Newsom has now made 17 appointments to the Fresno County bench. One vacancy remains, following the elevation of Judge Arlan Harrell to the state appellate court.

Crass Promoted

Crass has served as a court commissioner since 2023. He is currently assigned to family law cases.

He found out Monday, while attending a previously scheduled judicial training in Sacramento.

“I was in a class and got a call from the appointment secretary, Luis Céspedes, and excused myself and went out. Then I had an opportunity to share the news with my wife,” Crass said.

Public service motivated Crass to become a judge. He served as a Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Navy, then worked as a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Merced County District Attorney Office.

“I always liked the idea of public service. My dad was a superintendent of schools, so I think that was kind of bred into me a little bit,” Crass said.

Crass also served in private practice for several well-known Fresno firms — Wanger Jones Helsley, Baker Manock & Jensen, and Lang Richert & Patch to name a few.

In 2014, Crass ran for Congress as a Republican, finishing third in the primary. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, eventually won the race. Crass is currently registered with no party preference.

All of his experience led him to this moment.

“They all helped me have a wide background so that I can now apply all of those different things that I’ve learned throughout my career and apply them in a judicial role,” Crass said.

A Merced native, Crass attended the University of California and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.

He fills the vacancy created by the retirement earlier this year of Judge Francine Zepeda, a 2013 Gov. Jerry Brown appointment.

Crass will be up for election in 2028.

Wilson Surprised by Appointment

Wilson, of Fresno, has represented the FPOA for a decade. He will give up that practice to return home to Tulare County. He grew up in Exeter.

“My genesis was from Tulare County, and I was hoping to go back there as a judge,” Wilson said Wednesday. He said he may move back.

After applying for the judgeship two years ago, Wilson said he did not hear anything until 10 days ago. He was surprised to receive an email from Céspedes requesting an interview.

The problem was, Wilson was vacationing in Europe.

“I did the interview with Mr. Céspedes two days later from Edinburgh, Scotland. And then I got a call Monday congratulating me, telling me that the governor had appointed me. So kind of a cool story,” Wilson said.

Wilson had to keep the news close to the vest until the public announcement Wednesday. The first person he told was his son, who lives in Portland, Oregon. They cheered together over the phone.

He said his time representing the police union helped prepare him to become a judge.

“I learned so much from representing not only the FPOA but other law enforcement agencies on what they have to deal with in the public, and some of the things that they have changed in all their police practices because of what’s going on with law enforcement across the nation. It certainly helps me. It gives me a different perspective,” Wilson said.

Wilson also worked as a prosecutor in the district attorney offices in Fresno and Tulare counties. He is registered with no party preference.

He earned his Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law.

Wilson replaces retired Judge Hugo J. Loza.

The state pays Superior Court judges $244,727 a year.