Kathleen Vermazen Radez appointed to Alameda County Superior Court

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 12, 2026) — Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Kathleen Vermazen Radez, Deputy City Attorney on the City Attorney’s Office’s Ethics and Elections Team, to serve as a Judge in the Alameda County Superior Court. Radez brings nearly 15 years of legal experience to the bench, with deep expertise in ethics, elections, and appellate law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Julia A. Spain.

“We are very proud of Kathy and this well-deserved appointment,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “She has a strong dedication to the law, unwavering integrity, and commitment to public service. We know she will bring those same qualities to the bench.”

Background
Radez joined the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office as a Deputy City Attorney in 2024. While serving on the Office’s Ethics and Elections Team, Radez drafted legislation regarding campaign finance, elections, lobbying and conflicts of interest. She navigated complex legal issues and advised City departments on conflict of interest and ethics laws.

Before joining the City Attorney’s Office, Radez worked as a Supervising Chambers Attorney at the California Supreme Court, where she analyzed issues of state and federal law. She also taught at UC Law San Francisco, served in several roles at the California Department of Justice, and was a Law Clerk at both the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the California Supreme Court. Earlier in her career, Radez worked as an Associate at Morrison & Foerster.

Radez earned her Juris Doctor from the Columbia University School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Stanford University.

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. Former Deputy City Attorneys Julie Wilensky and Tamiza Hockenhull serve on the Alameda County Superior Court.

Most recently, Governor Newsom appointed former Deputy City Attorney Lianne Dumas to serve on the San Francisco Superior Court. Other former Deputy City Attorneys who went on to serve in the San Francisco Superior Court include Judges Loretta M. Giorgi, Anne-Christine Massullo, Joseph Quinn, Monica F. Wiley, Christine Van Aken, Patrick J. Mahoney, 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 was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2014 to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.