Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Melissa R. McCormick and Julie A. Palafox to judgeships in the Orange County Superior Court.

McCormick, 44, of Laguna Beach, has been a partner at Irell and Manella LLP since 2004, where she was an associate from 1997 to 2003. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1996 to 1997 and for the Honorable Judith N. Keep at the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California from 1995 to 1996. McCormick earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marjorie L. Carter. McCormick is registered without party preference.

Palafox, 57, of Trabuco Canyon, has been an attorney in private practice since 2000. She was a partner at Alevizon, Edwards and Palafox from 1998 to 2000 and at Alevizon, Smith, Susson and Palafox from 1990 to 1998. Palafox was an associate at Alevizon, Smith and Lawrence from 1984 to 1990 and at Gould and Sayre from 1983 to 1984. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. Palafox fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Wendy S. Lindley. She is registered without party preference.

The compensation for each of these positions is $184,610.