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West Sacramento News-Ledger

Yolo County Superior Court Elects Judges

Oct 15, 2024 03:58PM ● By Yolo County Superior Court News Release

YOLO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Judges of Yolo Superior Court elected Judge Tom M. Dyer and Judge Sonia Cortés to serve as Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for 2025-2026. Their terms will begin Jan. 1, 2025. 

The Presiding Judge is responsible for the administration of the court in addition to his regular judicial duties in the courtroom. With the assistance of the Court Executive Officer, the Presiding Judge, or “PJ,” establishes policies, ensures public access to justice, promotes efficiencies, maximizes use of judicial resources, provide a forum for the fair and expeditious resolution of disputes, and enhance service to the public.  

Following his election to the position of Presiding Judge, Judge Dyer said, “I’m grateful my colleagues have entrusted me with the opportunity to serve as Presiding Judge. The Yolo County Superior Court has a strong tradition of being innovative so that the community’s needs are handled capably and efficiently. I look forward to working with court staff and my judicial colleagues in fulfilling our mandate of providing access to justice for the community we serve.” 

Appointed by Governor Brown to the Yolo Superior Court bench in 2019, Judge Tom M. Dyer has presided over Family, Juvenile and Criminal calendars. He currently presides over a Criminal calendar. Prior to his appointment, he served as Chief Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, 2015-2018 and Legislative Director of the California Department of Finance (2012- 2015). He received a Juris Doctorate from University of California, Davis School of Law in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from University of California, Davis in 1997. 

Judge Cortés has been a Superior Court Judge for 10 years. Appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown in 2015, she received her Juris Doctor degree from University of California Berkeley School of Law in 1996 and a Bachelor of Arts at the University of California, Davis in 1993. Judge Cortés served as Yolo County Deputy County Counsel (2002-2015). Prior to that she was Managing Attorney for the International Institute of the East Bay (2002). Judge Cortés has presided over Criminal, Probate and Civil assignments, Juvenile, Small Claims and Traffic calendars. She currently presides over a Criminal calendar.  

For a more complete description of the 2025 Calendar Assignments, visit the court's website at www.yolo.courts.ca.gov.