The Fresno County Superior Court bench is now at full strength.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Fresno attorney David P. Chiappetta to fill the court’s final judicial vacancy.

Chiappetta, a 59-year-old Democrat, has more than 30 years of experience in private practice. He is a partner at Perkins Coie, specializing in complex commercial disputes and antitrust law. Although his office is listed in San Francisco, Chiappetta has telecommuted from Fresno, where he has lived for the past seven years.

“Any kind of news like this takes you back, just by virtue of the fact that it’s such a great opportunity,” Chiappetta told GV Wire.

Chiappetta received a call from the governor’s office last Friday, but he had to wait until Monday night before telling anyone.

“I couldn’t even tell my kids,” Chiappetta said.

A Judge With Empathy

Chiappetta applied with the governor’s office to become a judge two years ago. He said empathy is a key attribute.

“Empathy helps in trying to figure out who is telling the truth when there is a factual dispute, but also in determining what the best result is so that we reach a just outcome. I think it’s critical to really have an understanding of the parties,” Chiappetta said.

Chiappetta also won praise from a future colleague.

“We are delighted to have someone of Mr. Chiappetta’s caliber joining our bench,” Fresno County Superior Court Presiding Judge Jeffrey Hamilton said.

A Varied Background

Asked about his hometown, Chiappetta hesitated, calling it a “tricky question.”

Chiappetta was born in the Bronx, New York, graduated high school in Boulder, Colorado, and attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

He has lived on four continents and in all four U.S. continental time zones.

After serving in the Navy, Chiappetta earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington and worked at several law firms.

That included working in Australia for four years, where he represented the Australian government in antitrust cases.

A “girl” brought him to Fresno.

“I started dating my now-wife. She lived down here, and at some point I moved to Fresno. So here I am, and it’s the best thing that’s happened to me in more ways than one,” Chiappetta said.

Perkins Coie has been at odds with the Trump administration over its involvement with Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, its association with George Soros, and its hiring practices, among other grievances.

Chiappetta said he has no involvement with the firm’s political work.

You can view Newsom’s other judicial appointments made Monday at this link.

Bench at Full Strength

With the appointment, all 47 judicial positions are filled. Chiappetta will assume the seat vacated by Arlan Harrell, who was appointed by Newsom last year to the 5th District Court of Appeal.

Chiappetta will be up for election in 2028.

Newsom has appointed 18 of the court’s 47 judges. The governor has the right to appoint vacancies to the court caused usually by retirement or promotion. If a vacancy happens during the window to file for election, voters make the choice.

Seven judges are expected not to seek re-election this year. The filing deadline for incumbents is Wednesday, Feb. 4.