SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced the appointment of three judges to the Sacramento Superior Court bench.

“The court looks forward to these additions to the bench,” Presiding Judge Bunmi O. Awoniyi. “The collective experience that comes with Commissioner Badiga, Ms. Holliday and Ms. Zuvela will serve continued access to justice in Sacramento County.”

Jaya Badiga, of Sacramento County, has served as a Commissioner at the Sacramento Superior Court since 2022. She was a Sole Practitioner from 2018 to 2022. She served as an Attorney at the California Department of Health Care Services in 2020 and at California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services in 2018.

Badiga was Managing Attorney at WEAVE Inc. from 2013 to 2018 and Attorney Advisor at Galaxy Architects & Infrastructure from 2010 to 2013. She served as Staff Counsel at the California Employment Development Department from 2009 to 2010.

Badiga earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and International Communications from Boston University. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert S. Lapham.

Amy Holliday, of Sacramento County, was elected in March 2024 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Allen H. Sumner. The Governor’s interim appointment allows her to immediately assume the position she would otherwise begin in January 2025.

Since January 2020, Holliday has served as Assistant Chief Deputy managing prosecutors in the Central Operations Bureau and use of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy to solve and prosecute cases. She has prosecuted several cold cases including People of the State of California v. Joseph James DeAngelo (the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer).

Holliday earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Allison Zuvela, of Sacramento County, has served as a Retired Annuitant Deputy Public Defender at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office since 2023 and served in several positions there from 2003 to 2021, including Chief Deputy Public Defender and Assistant Chief Deputy Public Defender. She served as a Deputy Public Defender in the Tulare County Public Defender’s Office from 1995 to 2003.

Zuvela earned a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Sharon A. Lueras.