Fresno County Superior Court Judge Amy Guerra will be trading one judicial robe for another.

Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped Guerra, 46 and a Democrat, for the Fifth District Court of Appeal, his office announced Thursday evening.

She has served on the Fresno County Superior Court since Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the bench on Oct. 11, 2018. She replaced Judge Mark Snauffer, whom Brown had appointed to the Court of Appeal.

Guerra told GV Wire she was “deeply honored.”

“I look forward to stepping into this new role and working alongside everyone at the Fifth District Court of Appeal,” Guerra said.

At Fresno County Superior Court, Guerra presided over family law, domestic violence, and collaborative court assignments.

“I’m very excited to take on a new role at the appellate level, where the responsibility shifts to carefully reviewing legal decisions to ensure the law is applied consistently and correctly. It’s a meaningful next chapter in my commitment to public service and I look forward to continuing to serve this community,” Guerra said.

She will replace M. Bruce Smith, who retired last June after 11 years on that bench. Smith was nominated by Gov. Gray Davis and was confirmed in December 2014.

Confirmation Next Step

Guerra previously worked as chief defense attorney for the Fresno County Alternate Defense Office at Richard Ciummo and Associates.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Fresno State and a Juris Doctor from the San Joaquin College of Law.

Guerra is familiar with the Fresno-based Court of Appeal, having served as a pro tem justice from Oct. 15, 2025 to Jan. 23.

“My pro tem service at the Fifth District Court of Appeal was an invaluable, meaningful, and formative experience. I’m extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to better understand the responsibilities of the position before my appointment. I value both the relationships and learning experience that it brought,” Guerra said.

The appointment requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which consists of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Senior Presiding Justice Brad Hill, the governor’s office said.

Guerra also serves on the State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners.

Will Still Be Elected to Superior Court

Guerra won re-election in 2020, running unopposed. She is up for re-election this year and has filed her paperwork and qualified for the ballot. No other candidate filed to run against her.

The deadline for other candidates to run has expired.

Guerra said she filed to run because she did not know if she would be nominated to the Court of Appeal.

If confirmed, the appointment will leave a vacancy on the Superior Court that could be filled by Newsom before the end of his term in January 2027.

While Newsom has made several appointments to the Fresno County Superior Court bench, this is only his second appointment to the Court of Appeal. Last year, he picked Arlan Harrell to replace Charles Poochigian, who retired in 2025.

The Fifth District hears appeals of Superior Court cases from a nine-county region in Central California.

Guerra would still face the voters, if confirmed, at the next general election, which could be as soon as November. If retained, she would serve the remainder of the term through 2031. Appellate court justices serve 12-year terms.