The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, Proudly Announces the Appointment of New Judge

SAN JOSÉ, Calif. (June 20, 2024):  The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, is delighted to announce the appointment of Cynthia Chen as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Cynthia Chen, an accomplished attorney with a background in legal advocacy and public service, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has served as the Supervising Attorney at the Dependency Advocacy Center since 2022, and prior to that, as a Staff Attorney at the same organization from 2018 to 2022. Chen's commitment to juvenile justice is further exemplified by her tenure as Guardian Ad Litem at the Santa Clara County Juvenile Dependency Court from 2017 to 2018 and her earlier experience as a Law Clerk at the Boston Juvenile Court from 2011 to 2012.

Her diverse legal career includes serving as Staff Counsel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2009 to 2011 and as a Deputy Public Defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 2007 to 2009. Additionally, Chen has federal judicial experience, having clerked for the Honorable Cormac Carney at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California in 2007. Her early career included a role as an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP from 2005 to 2007.

Presiding Judge Beth McGowen expressed her enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Cynthia Chen to the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Her extensive experience, dedication to public service, and unwavering commitment to justice make her an exceptional addition to our bench.”

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, welcomes Cynthia Chen and looks forward to her contributions to upholding justice and serving the community with integrity and distinction.