USD Law Advocate, Spring 2026

NEW JURISTS Nine exceptional alumni named to judgeships in California

Sylwia Luttrell (LLM) appointed Riverside County

❱❱ Steven Crass ’00 (JD) has been appointed to the Fresno County Superior Court, where he previously served as a commissioner. Prior to that, he was of counsel at Warner Jones Helsley from 2020 to 2023. ❱❱ Paul Feldman ’07 (JD) has been appointed to the Ventura County Superior Court, where he previously served as a com missioner. Prior to that, he was a deputy inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Air Force. ❱❱ David I. Hood ’89 (JD) has been named a judge at the Stanislaus County Superior Court. This is his second superior court position after having served as a judge in the Merced County Superior Court. ❱❱ Sylwia Luttrell ’08 (JD) is a judge at the Riverside County Superior Court. Prior to this role, she served the Riverside Court, first as a hearing officer from 2021 to 2024 and then as a commissioner beginning in 2024. ❱❱ Catherine A. Richardson ’88 (JD) has been appointed to the San Diego County Superior Court, where she previously served as a commissioner. Prior to that, she was a senior chief deputy city attorney at the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. ❱❱ Mehtab Sandhu ’11 (JD) is a judge at the Orange County Superior Court. He previously served in the Anaheim City Attorney’s Office as an assistant city attorney and as a deputy city attorney/community prosecutor. ❱❱ Blair Soper ’05 (JD) has been appointed to the San Diego Superior Court. He brings with him 19 years of experience as a deputy public defender at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. ❱❱ Todd Stevens ’88 (JD) is a judge at the San Diego County Superior Court. His legal career includes 36 years of experi ence at Keeney Waite & Stevens, first as an associate before becoming a managing partner. ❱❱ Maggie Yang ’05 (JD) has been named a judge at the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment, Yang served as a deputy district attorney for San Bernardino since 2007.

Superior Court judge. Negeen Mirreghabie

appointed to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. Stephanie Pfaff ’11 (LLM) named a SDBJ 2025 Woman of Influence in Law.

Frederick Pfister named a SDBJ 2025 Leader of Influence in Law.

Jennifer Trowbridge (Paralegal Certificate) named a SD Metro Top 2025 Attorney. 2009 James Abe joined Buchalter as an intellectual property shareholder in the Los Angeles office. Brett Barley elected Dixon Unified School District superintendent. Jenn French named to the 2025 National Association of Women Lawyers Rising list. Joy Seo inducted as a mem ber of the 2024-25 Korean American Bar Association of San Diego Board of Directors and Officers. Peter Stockburger named a SDBJ 2025 Leader of Influence in Law. 2010 Colin Davis honored as a Rising Star by Law360. Vic Merjanian named a OC50 Rising Entrepreneur for Life-Saving Technology Innovations. 2011 Dylan Aste joined Pillsbury

as counsel for corporate investigations and white collar defens e.

USD SCHOOL OF LAW

4 1