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Shama Hakim Mesiwala↗
Associate Justice
Remainder of predecessor's termTrellis trial record
First South Asian and Muslim woman on a California appellate court; Sacramento trial judge 2017 to 2023. Supreme Court unanimously adopted her dissent in a school abuse case.
On your ballot. Vote Yes or No on keeping Shama Hakim Mesiwala on the court (remainder of predecessor's term). Appears on ballots in Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.
Qualifications
Appointment. Appointed by Gov. Newsom, 2023. First South Asian and Muslim woman on a California appellate court.
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Before the bench. Federal public defender's office; 13 years as a Third District research attorney. Sacramento Superior Court commissioner and judge 2017 to 2023; helped create an Indian Child Welfare Act courtroom.
Conduct
No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend
- YesIndivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices) (progressive group)
- NoCraig Huey voter guide (conservative guide)
- NoReform California (conservative guide)
In this district, we found published positions mainly from conservative and Republican groups. Most Democratic, progressive and newspaper groups here had not published positions on these justices as of October 16.
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
- Injury & safetyDoe v. Marysville Joint Unified (dissent) (2023). Would have let former students alleging abuse by a school counselor refile; the Supreme Court unanimously adopted her view. Read the opinion ›
- Criminal justiceCJLF v. CDCR (2025). Prop 57 lets prison credit rules override conflicting statutes, but credits cannot advance parole dates for indeterminate sentences. Under Supreme Court review. Read the opinion ›
From the trial court record
Heard a mix of cases, most often employment cases (41%). Granted motions at about the same rate as other judges in the county, and cases took longer than the county average, which usually reflects the kind of cases assigned. This is a small record, so read it with caution.
Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Bars compare this judge with county and state averages. Differences usually reflect the kinds of cases a judge was assigned.
Motions granted
Average case length
Time to trial
Caseload mix
Labor & Employment 40.5%, Torts 35.1%
| Motion type | Granted | Rulings | County avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary restraining order | 86.9% | 32 | 85.5% |
Small record (96 dockets).
Sacramento County Superior Court · 96 docketsUpdated 2026-10-02 · Full profile →
Sources: Daily Journal
Others on the same ballot
- Laurie M. EarlFormer public defender and deputy DA; Sacramento trial judge from 2005, presiding judge 2012 to 2013. Credited with helping clear the Third District's case backlog.
- Lauri A. DamrellFormer Orrick employment and pay equity partner; Sacramento trial judge 2018 to 2026, where she created the Complex Civil Litigation department. No widely reported appellate rulings yet.
- David B. SappGovernor's Legal Affairs Secretary since 2022 and former ACLU education lawyer; never a trial judge. Nominee who takes the seat in 2027 if retained; no rulings yet.
- Stacy Boulware EurieFormer Senior Assistant Attorney General; Sacramento trial judge for 15 years, including juvenile court presiding judge 2010 to 2018. No widely reported appellate rulings yet.
- Jonathan K. RennerFormer Senior Assistant Attorney General and governor's Legal Affairs Secretary; never a trial judge. The Supreme Court unanimously adopted his partial dissent in a murder-liability case.
- Aimee A. FeinbergFormer U.S. Supreme Court clerk and California Deputy Solicitor General 2014 to 2023; never a trial judge. Appointed 2024; no widely reported rulings yet.