Nation's first Hmong American judge appointed in California

Paul C. Lo appointed to a judgeship in the Merced County Superior Court

Last week in California, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Paul C. Lo to a judgeship in the Merced County Superior Court. The historic appointment makes Lo the first Hmong American judge in United States history.

First Hmong American judge in U.S. appointed in Merced County

Lo, 45, has been a practicing attorney for twenty years. He says that when he first arrived to the United States with this family at age 11, as refugees from the Vietnam War, he didn't speak any English. He eventually graduated from the University of California at Davis and UCLA School of Law.

Here's some more information from the Office of the Governor's press release:

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Paul C. Lo to a judgeship in the Merced County Superior Court.

Lo, 45, of Merced, has been a solo practitioner since 2003. He held multiple positions at Allen Polgar Proietti and Fagalde LLP from 1994 to 2003, including associate, partner and managing partner. Lo earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Hugh Flanagan. Lo is a Democrat. According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Lo is the first Hmong American judge ever appointed in the country.

The compensation for this position is $181,292.

Lo will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Hugh M. Flanagan, who stepped down over the summer after serving 13 years. A formal swearing-in ceremony has yet to be scheduled.

Congratulations to the new Judge Lo.