PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Stephanie Shirkey to serve in an interim appointment as a judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court, allowing her to immediately assume judicial duties months before the start of the term to which she had already been elected. The appointment was announced June 26 by the Governor’s Office.
Shirkey fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Vicki Ashworth, helping maintain the court’s full complement of judges as El Dorado County continues to manage a broad caseload ranging from criminal prosecutions and family law matters to civil litigation and probate proceedings. According to the Governor’s Office, the interim appointment allows Shirkey to take the bench immediately rather than waiting until January 2027, when her elected term was originally set to begin.
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Before joining the bench, Shirkey served as a lead attorney at California’s Third District Court of Appeal beginning in 2023. Her legal career also includes service as a senior research attorney for the Sacramento County Superior Court, in-house counsel for the California Department of Health Care Services, senior policy and compliance counsel for the California Apartment Association, director of legal and regulatory affairs for the California Association of Health Plans, and more than a decade as deputy and principal deputy legislative counsel in the California Office of Legislative Counsel. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.
In announcing the appointment, the Governor’s Office stated:
“The Governor’s appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she was otherwise elected to begin in January 2027.”
Shirkey is registered with No Party Preference, according to the Governor’s announcement. Judicial appointments in California are based on professional qualifications, and judges are expected to remain impartial regardless of political affiliation.
The El Dorado County Superior Court formally welcomed Shirkey during a swearing-in ceremony held in July, marking the beginning of her service to the county’s residents and legal community. The court said the appointment ensures continued judicial service following Judge Ashworth’s retirement.
For residents of El Dorado County, the appointment means court operations can continue without the disruption of a lengthy judicial vacancy. Superior Court judges preside over felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil disputes, juvenile matters, family law, probate proceedings and other cases affecting thousands of county residents each year.
The El Dorado County Superior Court serves communities throughout the county, including Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Georgetown and surrounding areas. Maintaining a full judicial bench is considered essential for reducing delays, managing growing caseloads and ensuring timely access to justice.
Sources
- Governor Gavin Newsom, Judicial Appointments Announcement (June 26, 2026).
- El Dorado County Superior Court, Press Release: Appointment and Swearing in of Stephanie Shirkey.
