Former Deputy Federal Public Defender Lara Hoffman

Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of Lara Hoffman, former Deputy Federal Public Defender with the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California, as Santa Clara County Superior Court judge.

Lara Hoffman, of San Mateo County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Hoffman has been a Senior Staff Attorney and Lecturer in Law at Stanford Law School since 2020. She served as a Deputy Federal Public Defender at the Central District of California from 2012 to 2020. Hoffman served as a Law Clerk at various courts including at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California from 2009 to 2012 and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2008 to 2009. Hoffman received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Roberta S. Hayashi. Hoffman is a Democrat.

Read the official announcement from the California Governor’s office here.

Judge Carrillo-Orellana joins an impressive list of former FPD-CDCA alumni who have become judges. See Former FPD-CDCA Attorneys Appointed to State and Federal Benches.