Appellate Advisory Committee

Chaired by Associate Justice Allison M. Danner of the Sixth District Court of Appeal, the committee includes one Supreme Court Justice, six appellate court justices, two superior court judges with experience in the appellate division, the clerk of the Supreme Court, an appellate court clerk, a superior court clerk, a representative of the Attorney General’s Office, the State Public Defender, three civil appellate practitioners, two attorneys who specialize in criminal appeals, and one appellate lawyer of the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court.

The committee reports to the Judicial Council and is overseen by the council’s Rules Committee. Members are appointed by the Chief Justice for three-year terms. The period for nominations and applications for membership is generally in February and March of each year.

Download Committee Roster

• Hon. Allison M. Danner, Chair, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District
• Hon. Jeremy M. Goldman, Vice-Chair, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District
• Mr. David A. Andreasen, Staff Attorney, California Appellate Project
• Hon. Jose S. Castillo, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
• Hon. Syda K. Cogliati, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz
• Mr. Michael G. Colantuono, Managing Shareholder, Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC
• Hon. Aimee A. Feinberg, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District
• Mr. Jonathan D. Grossman, Appellate Attorney, Sixth District Appellate Program
• Ms. Karen M. Harkins, Managing Attorney, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One
• Ms. Lynelle K. Hee, Executive Director, Appellate Defenders, Inc.
• Mr. Rex S. Heinke, Partner, Complex Appellate Litigation Group
• Hon. Leondra R. Kruger, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
• Ms. Galit Lipa, State Public Defender
• Hon. Carl H. Moor, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District
• Mr. Jorge E. Navarrete, Clerk/Executive Officer, California Supreme Court
• Hon. Charles S. Poochigian, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
• Ms. Beth Robbins, Assistant Clerk/Executive Officer, Court of Appeal, First Appellate District
• Ms. Erin W. Rosenberg, Supreme Court Chambers Attorney, Supreme Court of California
• Mr. Benjamin G. Shatz, Certified Appellate Specialist, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
• Ms. Amy R. Smith-Fisher, Senior Administrator, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Ms. Robin H. Urbanski, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice
• Hon. Helen E. Williams, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara

Judicial Council Staff to the Committee

• Mr. Jeremy Varon, Lead Staff Attorney (acting), Legal Services, Judicial Council of California
• Ms. Stephanie Paone, Administrative Coordinator, Legal Services, Judicial Council of California

The Appellate Advisory Committee has four standing subcommittees:

• The Rules Subcommittee considers suggestions from members of the committee, the courts, the bar, and the public for new and amended appellate rules and forms and recommends appropriate action to the committee.
• The Legislation Subcommittee reviews pending legislation and suggestions for legislation affecting the appellate courts and makes recommendations to the Policy Coordination and Liaison Committee on whether to support or oppose such legislation.
• The Appellate Division Subcommittee reviews suggestions for improving the rules and forms for the superior court appellate division, and recommends appropriate action to the committee.
• The Appellate Efficiency Ad Hoc Subcommittee considers recommendations made by the Appellate Caseflow Workgroup.
• The Joint Appellate Technology Subcommittee, (Currently inactive) which includes members from the Information Technology Advisory Committee and the Administrative Presiding Justices Advisory Committee, makes recommendations for improving the administration of justice within the appellate courts through the use of technology; and, for fostering cooperative endeavors to resolve common technological issues within the appellate courts.

The Appellate Advisory Committee also has limited term subcommittees that are formed to work on particular projects. These vary from year to year.

The Appellate Advisory Committee is charged with making recommendations to the council for improving the administration of justice in appellate proceedings. The committee also makes proposals on training for justices and appellate support staff to the Governing Committee of the Center for Judicial Education and Research. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.40(a)-(b).)

The committee was established, effective July 1, 1993, by rule 1020 of the California Rules of Court (now rule 10.40). Before that date, a much smaller group consisting of council members advised the council on issues relating to appellate courts and appellate practice and procedure.

From 1999 to 2004, the committee worked with the Appellate Rules Project Task Force appointed by the Chief Justice to develop recommendations for revising and reorganizing the entire body of rules for the Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court to make them easier to read and use. The final installment of these revised rules was presented to the Judicial Council in October 2004. From 2003 to 2008, the committee worked on similar recommendations for completely revising and reorganizing the rules for the superior court appellate division and for new forms to assist litigants and the courts in these proceedings. These updated rules and new forms were presented to the Judicial Council in February 2008.

The committee’s goal is to provide a forum with broad representative of appellate justices, administrators, and practitioners to make recommendations to the Judicial Council concerning the appellate courts and appellate practice and procedure.