UC Law SF Adjunct Teri L. Jackson Nominated as First African-American Woman to Serve on First District Court of Appeal

Jackson has taught Trial Advocacy at UC Law SF Since 2006

Governor Gavin Newsom has nominated San Francisco Superior Court Judge Teri L. Jackson as associate justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division Three. If confirmed, Judge Jackson will be the first African-American woman justice in the court’s history.

“I am committed to building a state government that better reflects the great diversity of California and am proud to make this historic nomination,” said Governor Newsom. “Judge Jackson has served with distinction and I am confident that she will be an excellent Justice on the First District Court of Appeal.”

Judge Jackson was also the first African-American woman ever appointed to the San Francisco County Superior Court when she was appointed by Governor Gray Davis in 2002.

“I wish to thank Governor Newsom for the nomination to the First District Court of Appeal. Further, I am honored and privileged to continue to serve this great state as an Appellate Justice,” Judge Jackson said in a statement released by the governor’s office.

Judge Jackson, 63, of San Mateo, has served as a judge at the San Francisco County Superior Court since 2002. She has served as an adjunct law professor at the UC Law SF since 2006.

“Judge Jackson has been a beloved professor of trial advocacy at UC Law SF,” said Daniel Galindo ’18, a Tony Patiño Fellow and associate at Medina Orthwein LLP in Oakland. “In the classroom, Judge Jackson goes to great lengths to ensure students are well prepared to argue effectively in court and try cases. For me, learning from the Judge was an invaluable experience that prepared me so well that the first time I was in court as an attorney felt like second nature. As a person of color, I’m proud to have learned from the first female African American appointed to the 1st District Court of Appeal.”

Judge Jackson was of counsel at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP from 1997 to 2002 and served as an assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office from 1984 to 1997. She served as a deputy district attorney in the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office from 1981 to 1984. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Judge Jackson fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Martin J. Jenkins. This position requires the completion of a review by the State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation and confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.