Governor Gavin Newsom’s judicial appointments and tax‑return controversy dominate California politics

California Governor Gavin Newsom has shaped the state’s judiciary by appointing a total of 521 judges since taking office, an overwhelming majority of whom are Democrats. In June 2026 he appointed 29 judges, including four Court of Appeals justices, and his appointments also fill many vacancies – 64 judicial openings remain, with 23 in Los Angeles County. The current California Supreme Court is heavily stacked with Newsom appointees, including Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and Associate Justice Kelli M. Evans.

At the same time, Newsom has faced pressure to release his and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s tax returns. He pledged to make all returns public by the end of July, but the final deadline passed without disclosure. Federal investigations into the couple’s finances and into former staffer Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, have intensified scrutiny, which Newsom has described as a political witch hunt.