Shama Mesiwala
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District
Mesiwala has served as an associate justice on California's Third District Court of Appeal since 2023. She previously served as a Sacramento County Superior Court commissioner and judge and worked as a public defender and appellate court attorney.
Where Shama Mesiwala stands, based on their records
Supports
Civil Rights (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Created Northern California's first courtroom dedicated to Indian Child Welfare Act cases.
January 1, 2017Supports Civil Rights
Source: courts.ca.gov
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Was unanimously confirmed as an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
February 14, 2023
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
December 23, 2022
Source: gov.ca.gov
Was elevated from commissioner to judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court.
November 1, 2017
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was appointed a commissioner of the Sacramento County Superior Court.
January 1, 2017
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 2 favorable
Dissented in R.D. v. Superior Court, arguing a juvenile deserved a hearing on a remedy for a Racial Justice Act violation.
February 19, 2025Favorable on Impartiality
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Jaime, reversing a conviction because a prosecutor did not rebut presumptively invalid reasons for a peremptory juror challenge.
May 19, 2023Favorable on Impartiality
Source: law.justia.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 25 favorable
Authored Velocity Investments v. Nguyen, reviving consumer claims over documents omitted from a debt-collection complaint.
August 28, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Became co-chair of the Judicial Council's Tribal Court-State Court Forum.
September 15, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.ca.gov
Joined Gomez v. Superior Court, ordering mental-health diversion after finding no evidence of the statutory public-safety risk.
August 15, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored DPR Construction v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, annulling a decision that relied on reports omitted from the pretrial statement.
June 11, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Dissented in R.D. v. Superior Court, arguing a juvenile deserved a hearing on a remedy for a Racial Justice Act violation.
February 19, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Dissented in Lucky Chances v. Gambling Control Commission, arguing a casino violated gambling law through a disqualified felon's involvement.
October 28, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. I.B., upholding a juvenile sex-offender registration requirement against an equal-protection challenge.
August 28, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Served on the California Supreme Court's Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.
January 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: judicialethicsopinions.ca.gov
Dissented in Doe v. Marysville Joint Unified School District, arguing state claim-preclusion law allowed the plaintiffs' claims to proceed.
December 21, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Walsworth v. Superior Court, ordering dismissal after a defendant was denied his statutory speedy-trial right.
December 20, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored In re Banks, affirming habeas relief because no evidence showed an inmate agreed to introduce drugs into prison.
November 27, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Brinsmead v. Elk Grove Unified School District, reviving a wrongful-death claim over a school bus that failed to arrive.
September 18, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Sloan, ordering a new civil-commitment trial without testimony from the state's privately retained expert.
July 17, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Jaime, reversing a conviction because a prosecutor did not rebut presumptively invalid reasons for a peremptory juror challenge.
May 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Was unanimously confirmed as an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
February 14, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.
December 23, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov
Served as the Americans with Disabilities Act judge for Sacramento's Hall of Justice.
January 1, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was elevated from commissioner to judge of the Sacramento County Superior Court.
November 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Created Northern California's first courtroom dedicated to Indian Child Welfare Act cases.
January 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.ca.gov
Was appointed a commissioner of the Sacramento County Superior Court.
January 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Began teaching appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor at UC Davis School of Law.
January 1, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Became a senior judicial attorney for Third District Justice Ronald B. Robie.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Became a central staff attorney at the Third District Court of Appeal.
January 1, 2004Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Began handling criminal appeals at the Central California Appellate Program.
January 1, 1999Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: newsroom.courts.ca.gov
Represented indigent criminal defendants at the federal public defender's office in Sacramento.
January 1, 1999Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 2 records
Dissented in Lucky Chances v. Gambling Control Commission, arguing a casino violated gambling law through a disqualified felon's involvement.
October 28, 2024
Source: law.justia.com
Served on the California Supreme Court's Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions.
January 1, 2024
Source: judicialethicsopinions.ca.gov
Past race Shama Mesiwala ran in:
- Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Third District: Shall Associate Justice SHAMA MESIWALA be elected to the office for the term provided by law? · November 3, 2026 · California · incumbent