Sacramento, California -  Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the appointment of Judge Thomas DeSantos and Judge Mark W. Snauffer as associate justices of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

Fifth District Court of Appeal

Thomas DeSantos, 61, of Hanford, has been appointed associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal. DeSantos has served as a judge at the Kings County Superior Court since 2003. He was a sole practitioner from 1993 to 2003 and from 1984 to 1989. DeSantos was a partner at Farley, DeSantos et. al. from 1989 to 1993 and an associate at Kahn, Soares and Conway from 1981 to 1983. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Southern California School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. DeSantos fills the vacancy created by the death of Justice Gene M. Gomes. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The Commission consists of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Senior Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill. DeSantos is a Democrat.

Mark W. Snauffer, 64, of Fresno, has been appointed associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal. Snauffer has served as a judge at the Fresno County Superior Court since 2000. He was a partner and shareholder at Baker, Manock and Jensen from 1982 to 2000. Snauffer was an associate at Hefner, Stark and Marois from 1980 to 1982 and at McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte and Carruth from 1977 to 1980. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Stephen J. Kane. This position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. The Commission consists of Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Senior Presiding Justice Brad R. Hill. Snauffer is a Democrat.

The compensation for each of these positions is $228,918.