India-born Jaya Badiga appointed judge in Sacramento County Superior Court

Jaya Badiga, an Indian-American attorney and certified family law specialist, has been appointed as a Judge in the Sacramento County Superior Court in California by Governor Gavin Newsom. Badiga, who previously served as a Commissioner at the same court since 2022, fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Robert S. Lapham. \r

Born in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, Badiga has a Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University. With over ten years of experience in Family Law, Badiga's appointment adds to the diversity of the Sacramento County bench. \r

In a separate appointment, Governor Newsom appointed Raj Singh Badhesha as a Judge in the Fresno County Superior Court, making him the first Sikh to be appointed to the Fresno County bench. Badhesha, a Democrat, brings extensive legal experience from his tenure in the Fresno City Attorney's Office and has been celebrated for his commitment to justice and diversity in the legal system.