Justine Cephus appointed to San Francisco Superior Court

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 9, 2026) — Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Justine Cephus, Deputy City Attorney on the City Attorney’s Office’s Code Enforcement Team, to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco Superior Court. Cephus brings over 15 years of legal experience to the bench, with deep expertise in criminal law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ross C. Moody.

“We are very proud of Justine,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “Her many years of service to the City of San Francisco and her knowledge of both criminal and civil law will greatly benefit the court.”

Background
While serving on the Office’s Code Enforcement Team, Cephus investigated and civilly prosecuted property owners and businesses that violated building, housing, planning, health or other city and state codes.

Before joining the City Attorney’s Office, Cephus served in several roles over nearly 15 years at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, most recently working in their Homicide Unit. Earlier in her career, she served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.

Cephus earned her Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley.

Deputy City Attorneys on the Bench
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office has seen a number of former Deputies elevated to the bench in recent years.

Most recently, Governor Newsom appointed former Deputy City Attorney Kathleen Radez to serve on the Alameda County Superior Court. Other former Deputy City Attorneys who went on to serve in the Alameda County Superior Court include Judges Julie Wilensky and Tamiza Hockenhull.

Former Deputy City Attorneys who went on to serve in the San Francisco Superior Court include Judges Lianne Dumas, Loretta M. Giorgi, Anne-Christine Massullo, Joseph Quinn, Monica F. Wiley, Christine Van Aken, and the late Andrew Y.S. Cheng.

Former Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese M. Stewart, Co-Chief of Appellate Litigation Jeremy Goldman, and Chief of Appellate Litigation and former Chief of Complex and Special Litigation Danny Y. Chou serve on the California Court of Appeal for the First District. Former Deputy City Attorney Miguel Márquez served on the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth District from 2012-2016.

Former Deputy City Attorney Vince Chhabria and former Chief of Code Enforcement Alex G. Tse serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.