Frederick S. Chung

Associate Justice (nominee; currently a Santa Clara Superior Court judge)

First retention voteNo trial data

Former Gibson Dunn partner with 22 years of civil litigation; Santa Clara trial judge since 2018. Nominee; would take the seat in 2027; no appellate rulings.

On your ballot. Vote Yes or No on keeping Frederick S. Chung on the court (first retention vote). Appears on ballots in Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz.

Qualifications

Appointment. Appointed by Gov. Newsom, 2026. Takes the seat January 2027 if retained.

Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.

Before the bench. Morrison & Foerster, then Gibson Dunn partner (22 years of civil litigation). Santa Clara Superior Court judge since 2018; assistant supervising judge of the civil division.

Conduct

No public discipline or controversies found.

What others recommend

YesSan Francisco Chronicle (newspaper editorial board)
YesIndivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices) (progressive group)
NoCraig Huey voter guide (conservative guide)

Robyn Nordell's conservative guide repeats Craig Huey's picks, so it is not listed separately.

Trellis does not make recommendations. These are positions published by outside groups as of October 16, 2026. Labels describe each group's general leaning.

Notable rulings

No widely reported rulings found.

From the trial court record

Trellis profile exists but has no analytics.

Sources: Santa Clara Superior Court

Others on the same ballot

Charles E. Wilson IIFormer deputy DA; Santa Clara trial judge supervising family violence. Ruled that making three Spanish-speaking defendants share one interpreter violated the right to an interpreter.
Charles F. AdamsFormer family law attorney and federal clerk; Santa Clara family division supervising judge, named 2025 Judge of the Year by a local trial lawyers group.
Allison Marston DannerFormer U.S. Supreme Court clerk, Vanderbilt law professor and federal prosecutor; Santa Clara trial judge 2012 to 2018. No widely reported rulings in the record; no discipline found.
Daniel H. BrombergFormer appellate partner at Jones Day and Pillsbury and deputy legal affairs secretary to the governor; never a trial judge. No widely reported rulings yet.