Michelle C. Kim
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division One
Kim is an associate justice in Division One of California's Second District Court of Appeal. She previously served on the Los Angeles Superior Court and worked as a deputy public defender and alternate public defender.
Where Michelle C. Kim stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (10 records), Women's Reproductive Rights (1 record), Civil Rights (3 records)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 10 support
Joined People v. Washington, reversing denial of resentencing because release on parole did not eliminate eligibility for statutory resentencing relief.
January 13, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Ruiz, vacating the sentence and remanding for resentencing after the California Supreme Court held defendants have a jury-trial right on aggravating facts used to impose an upper term.
November 21, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Shipp, affirming denial of murder resentencing after an evidentiary hearing because the prosecution proved guilt under current law.
November 20, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Perry, affirming denial of resentencing because the defendant's admission that he was the shooter showed his murder liability did not rest on imputed malice.
October 6, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Leiva, affirming murder and torture convictions in the death of a 10-year-old child and concluding substantial evidence supported the jury's finding of sadistic purpose.
July 24, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: leagle.com · researched September 13, 2026
Served as assistant supervising judge for limited-jurisdiction criminal matters.
January 1, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over limited-jurisdiction criminal matters on the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
June 1, 2018Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Tried felony jury cases as sole counsel while representing indigent defendants.
January 1, 2005Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Los Angeles County deputy alternate public defender from 2005 through 2018.
January 1, 2005Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Los Angeles County deputy public defender from 2003 through 2005.
January 1, 2003Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 1 support
Joined Decloedt v. RadNet Management, holding that sexual-orientation harassment is sexual harassment under California employment law and that federal law barred compelled arbitration of the claims.
June 26, 2026Supports Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 3 support
Joined Decloedt v. RadNet Management, holding that sexual-orientation harassment is sexual harassment under California employment law and that federal law barred compelled arbitration of the claims.
June 26, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined In re Lynex, holding that a Racial Justice Act habeas petitioner needs a plausible allegation, rather than a prima facie showing, to obtain appointed counsel and remanding for further proceedings.
January 27, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored County of Los Angeles v. Lugo, reversing denial of a request to set aside a voluntary declaration of paternity, holding the request timely under the governing pre-2020 law, and remanding for a merits ruling.
November 21, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Joined the Second District Court of Appeal as an associate justice after taking the oath of office.
November 25, 2024
Source: elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Gavin Newsom nominated her as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Eight.
September 30, 2024
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as vice chair of the Los Angeles County Judicial Selection Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2024
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
June 1, 2018
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 18 favorable
Joined Decloedt v. RadNet Management, holding that sexual-orientation harassment is sexual harassment under California employment law and that federal law barred compelled arbitration of the claims.
June 26, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined In re Lynex, holding that a Racial Justice Act habeas petitioner needs a plausible allegation, rather than a prima facie showing, to obtain appointed counsel and remanding for further proceedings.
January 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined People v. Washington, reversing denial of resentencing because release on parole did not eliminate eligibility for statutory resentencing relief.
January 13, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Ruiz, vacating the sentence and remanding for resentencing after the California Supreme Court held defendants have a jury-trial right on aggravating facts used to impose an upper term.
November 21, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored County of Los Angeles v. Lugo, reversing denial of a request to set aside a voluntary declaration of paternity, holding the request timely under the governing pre-2020 law, and remanding for a merits ruling.
November 21, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Shipp, affirming denial of murder resentencing after an evidentiary hearing because the prosecution proved guilt under current law.
November 20, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Perry, affirming denial of resentencing because the defendant's admission that he was the shooter showed his murder liability did not rest on imputed malice.
October 6, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Leiva, affirming murder and torture convictions in the death of a 10-year-old child and concluding substantial evidence supported the jury's finding of sadistic purpose.
July 24, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: leagle.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored People v. Kim, affirming a restitution order that required additional payment to New York Life despite an earlier statement that restitution had been paid in full.
January 23, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: case-law.vlex.com · researched September 13, 2026
The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed her appellate appointment after the State Bar Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation rated her exceptionally well qualified.
November 25, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over an independent civil calendar at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
January 1, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over an unlimited civil calendar at the Spring Street Courthouse.
January 1, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as site judge at multiple Los Angeles County courthouses.
January 1, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as assistant supervising judge for limited-jurisdiction criminal matters.
January 1, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a departmental head deputy in the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender's Office.
January 1, 2015Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Tried felony jury cases as sole counsel while representing indigent defendants.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Los Angeles County deputy alternate public defender from 2005 through 2018.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as a Los Angeles County deputy public defender from 2003 through 2005.
January 1, 2003Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Retention question · November 3, 2026
Profile last researched September 12, 2026.