Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced the appointment of two Superior Court judges in Santa Clara County, Jon Heaberlin and Meghan Piano.

Jon Heaberlin

The new judges were among 10 Superior Court judges and two Court of Appeal justices appointed statewide.

Heaberlin has served as a commissioner at the county Superior Court since 2023. He was a partner at Rankin, Stock, Heaberlin, Oneal from 2005 to 2023 and an associate there from 1998 to 2005.

Heaberlin earned his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Nona Klippen. Heaberlin is a Democrat.

Meghan Piano

Meghan Piano also is a graduate of the Santa Clara University School of Law, where she was an adjunct professor from 2015 to 2022. She served as a county deputy public defender since 2008, and was a research assistant and clinical fellow at the law school’s Northern California Innocence Project from 2007 to 2008.

Piano fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James E. Towery. Piano is a Democrat.

The judgeships have an annual salary of $243,940.

The governor appoints the vast majority of superior court judges, either for a full six-year term or the remaining portion of a six-year term.

To be eligible for any judicial position at any level, a candidate must be an attorney who has been admitted to practice for 10 years or who has served as a California judge for the 10 years immediately preceding the appointment. The State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation thoroughly investigates and evaluates nominees’ background and qualifications prior to their appointment to the Superior Court. The evaluations are strictly confidential.

Elected judges who have not previously been appointed by the governor are not subject to the same thorough review and scrutiny as appointed judges.