Judge Piano Sworn Into Santa Clara County Superior Court

SAN JOSÉ, Calif. (January 3, 2025):  The Santa Clara County Superior Court proudly welcomes Judge Meghan Piano following her oath of office ceremony held today, January 3, 2025. Judge Piano’s appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James E. Towery. Her extensive experience and dedication to justice promise to make a significant impact on the court and the community it serves.

Judge Piano has been appointed to serve as a Superior Court Judge after a distinguished career marked by her commitment to fairness and advocacy. Since 2008, she has served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, where she diligently and compassionately represented some of our community’s highest-need clients. Judge Piano also participated in collaborative efforts to improve processes and increase efficiencies in our criminal court.

In addition to her role as a public defender, Judge Piano contributed to the legal community as an Adjunct Professor at Santa Clara University School of Law from 2015 to 2022. Her dedication to legal education and mentorship has inspired countless future lawyers. Another interesting fact is that Judge Piano was born and raised in Santa Clara County and attended Santa Clara University (SCU) for both her undergraduate and law school education, further emphasizing her lifelong connection to the local community.

Judge Piano’s legal journey began at the Northern California Innocence Project, where she worked as a Research Assistant and Clinical Fellow from 2007 to 2008, helping to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals.

“Above all, I aspire to bring humility, empathy, and the ability to relate to others from all backgrounds to the bench. Empathy, for me, is about more than understanding—it is about listening deeply, recognizing the humanity in every individual, and approaching each case with care and compassion,” said Judge Piano during her remarks at the ceremony.  “I want those who appear before me, regardless of their circumstances, to feel that their voices are heard and their stories matter.”

The ceremony, attended by colleagues, family, and community leaders, celebrated Judge Piano’s exceptional career and dedication to public service. The Santa Clara County Superior Court and the broader community extend their warm congratulations to Judge Piano as she begins this new chapter in her career.