Criminal Law Advisory Committee

The 21-member advisory committee is comprised of appellate court justices, trial court judicial officers, judicial administrators, prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, and probation officers, and advisory staff, and reports directly to the Judicial Council. Members are appointed by the Chief Justice for a three-year term.   

Download the Committee Roster.

• Hon. Lisa Rodriguez, Chair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
• Hon. Serena R. Murillo, Vice Chair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Ms. Laura Arnold, Senior Deputy Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender, County of Santa Barbara
• Hon. James N. Bianco, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Hon. Christopher R. Bowen, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa
• Ms. Melissa Fowler-Bradley, Court Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of Shasta
• Hon. Amy K. Guerra, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Fresno

• Hon. Audra Ibarra, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara

• Mr. David A. Kaiser, Attorney

• Mr. John Keene, Chief Probation Officer, San Mateo Probation Department

• Mr. Jay Kohorn, Assistant Director, California Appellate Project, Los Angeles
• Ms. Melanie Kushnir, Director, Collaborative Justice Programs, Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco 
• Hon. Cynthia C. Lie, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District 
• Hon. Kimberly Menninger, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange
• Ms. Jeannine Pacioni, District Attorney, Monterey County
• Ms. Anabel Z. Romero, Court Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
• Hon. Alison M. Tucher, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Three
• Ms. Cristel Tullock, Chief Probation Officer, San Francisco County Adult Probation Department
• Hon. Stephen M. Wagstaffe, District Attorney, San Mateo County
• Ms. Tracy Wellenkamp, Division Director, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda
• Mr. Lance E. Winters, Senior Assistant Attorney General, California Attorney General's Office

Pretrial Policy and Data Subcommittee

• Hon. Lisa R. Rodriguez, Chair, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego
• Ms. Laura Arnold, Senior Deputy Public Defender, Office of the Public Defender, County of Santa Barbara
• Ms. Melissa Fowler-Bradley, Court Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of Shasta
• Chief John Keene, Chief Probation Officer, San Mateo County Probation Department
• Hon. Serena R. Murillo, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
• Ms. Anabel Z. Romero, Court Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
• Hon. Stephen M. Wagstaffe, District Attorney, San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office

Key projects of this advisory body are outlined in the annual agenda.

The committee is charged with making recommendations to the council for improving the administration of justice in criminal proceedings. The committee identifies issues and concerns confronting the judiciary in the areas of criminal procedure, practice, and case management and suggests solutions and responses.