Los Angeles, CA – On February 28, 2022, the Los Angeles Superior Court announced the election of Christine J. Gonong as Commissioner of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Gonong has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance (APAWLA) since 2020. She and former APAWLA President Leana S. Taing co-founded the APAWLA Trailblazer Speakers Series in 2020 as co-chairs of APAWLA’s Mentorship Committee. Among the speakers for the virtual series were California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen, and civil rights trailblazer, Mia Yamamoto.
APAWLA President Aimee Contreras-Camua, stated: “I have had the pleasure and honor of working with Christine for many years, most recently at APAWLA. She has made such a positive impact on every organization she has been involved with thanks to her amazing leadership skills, sharp intellect and commitment to mentorship.”
Former APAWLA President Calimay Pham expressed her excitement for the appointment, stating, “As a former law clerk for the federal Court of Appeals, Christine has long been recognized for her sharp legal analysis and her ongoing efforts to develop and inspire the next generation of legal minds. It will be a great benefit to all residents of Los Angeles County to have such a thoughtful, well-reasoned judicial officer on the bench.”
Fellow APAWLA Governor the Honorable Holly Fujie joined in congratulating Gonong, stating: “Commissioner-Elect Gonong has a long history of leadership in the bar and in the community. The Court is delighted to have her join us and looks forward to working with her for many years to come.”
Gonong is the director of law and motion at Nguyen Lawyers, ALC, a boutique plaintiff-side firm specializing in complex civil litigation involving catastrophic injuries. Gonong is also a California Supreme Court appointee to the State Bar Board of Trustees and a Legal Writing adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. She is a former president of the Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) and secretary of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA). Gonong clerked for Justice Mario R. Ramil of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Judge S. James Otero, Judge Dale S. Fischer, Judge Otis D. Wright II and Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; and Circuit Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Court commissioners are appointed by the judges of the court, and act as temporary judges presiding over cases as directed by the Presiding Judge.