Sonny S. Sandhu
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
Sandhu is an associate justice of California's Fifth District Court of Appeal. He previously served on the Stanislaus County Superior Court, including as presiding judge, and as the county public defender.
Where Sonny S. Sandhu stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record)
Mixed record
Civil Rights (4 support · 3 oppose)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Presided over criminal matters in Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2019Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 4 support · 3 oppose
Conditionally granted a new trial in Gharraee v. Trader Joe's unless the plaintiff accepted a reduced $10.8 million award.
December 16, 2025Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over a Trader Joe's negligence trial that returned a $23.5 million verdict.
October 3, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Dismissed Schmidt v. Trinut Farm Management under a forum-selection clause; the Court of Appeal later reversed the judgment.
June 27, 2023Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Granted anti-SLAPP motions dismissing claims against Doctors Medical Center; the Court of Appeal later reversed the orders.
May 27, 2022Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Became public defender of Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2017Supports Civil Rights
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became chief deputy public defender of Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2015Supports Civil Rights
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became a deputy public defender in Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2003Supports Civil Rights
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 7 records
Was unanimously confirmed as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
August 6, 2026
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became the first Asian American Pacific Islander justice to serve on the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
August 6, 2026
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Ended his service as presiding judge after nomination to the Court of Appeal.
July 1, 2026
Source: stanislaus.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
June 2, 2026
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became presiding judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2025
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became assistant presiding judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2023
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed a judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
October 11, 2018
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 24 favorable
Was unanimously confirmed as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
August 6, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became the first Asian American Pacific Islander justice to serve on the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
August 6, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Ended his service as presiding judge after nomination to the Court of Appeal.
July 1, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: stanislaus.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
June 2, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Helped lead the First Impressions Program with the Stanislaus County Office of Education.
January 1, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Conditionally granted a new trial in Gharraee v. Trader Joe's unless the plaintiff accepted a reduced $10.8 million award.
December 16, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over a Trader Joe's negligence trial that returned a $23.5 million verdict.
October 3, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Oversaw the Stanislaus County civil grand jury during the 2024-2025 term.
June 1, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: stanislaus.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became presiding judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Judicial Diversity Summit Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Chaired the Judges in the Classroom outreach initiative in Stanislaus County.
September 1, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Dismissed Schmidt v. Trinut Farm Management under a forum-selection clause; the Court of Appeal later reversed the judgment.
June 27, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Became assistant presiding judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Helped establish the Stanislaus County Court Observer Program with California State University, Stanislaus.
June 1, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Granted anti-SLAPP motions dismissing claims against Doctors Medical Center; the Court of Appeal later reversed the orders.
May 27, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Became president of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association.
January 1, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: capaja.org · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Judicial Council Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over civil matters in Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Presided over criminal matters in Stanislaus County Superior Court.
January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Joined the executive board of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association.
January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: capaja.org · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed a judge of the Stanislaus County Superior Court.
October 11, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became public defender of Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became chief deputy public defender of Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2015Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became a deputy public defender in Stanislaus County.
January 1, 2003Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 5 records
Oversaw the Stanislaus County civil grand jury during the 2024-2025 term.
June 1, 2025
Source: stanislaus.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Judicial Diversity Summit Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2024
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became president of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association.
January 1, 2022
Source: capaja.org · researched September 13, 2026
Served on the Judicial Council Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee.
January 1, 2021
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Joined the executive board of the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association.
January 1, 2019
Source: capaja.org · researched September 13, 2026
Retention question · November 3, 2026
Profile last researched September 12, 2026.