SAN DIEGO — Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell yesterday announced the appointment of Janet A. Gamboa as Clerk/Executive Officer of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District. Administrative Presiding Justice McConnell noted, “Janet Gamboa is an extraordinary court administrator who has shown through her recent work as acting court executive that she will be a brilliant CEO for the Fourth District.”
In this role, Gamboa will lead the Office of the Clerk and oversee the court’s nonjudicial administrative operations. “I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve the court as clerk/executive officer,” said Gamboa. “Our courts face both challenges and opportunities, and I am confident that, through the talent, professionalism, and dedication of our employees, we will continue to meet those challenges and strengthen our service to the public. I look forward to working collaboratively with our justices, management team, and staff to build on the court’s strong foundation and advance its mission of delivering justice.”
Gamboa has dedicated her education and professional career to judicial administration and public service. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2006; a Master of Science in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton, in 2010; and a Graduate Certificate in Judicial Administration from California State University, Sacramento, in 2012.
Over the past 20 years, Gamboa has served in various positions within the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, building a strong record of achievement and developing extensive knowledge of appellate court operations. For the past seven years, she has served as assistant clerk/executive officer, working alongside Presiding Justice Joanne Motoike and former Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary. Justice Motoike shared that, “The Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, has benefited significantly from Janet Gamboa’s contributions, particularly during her tenure as assistant clerk/executive officer. In her new capacity as clerk/executive officer, the Fourth District is poised to thrive under her guidance, and she will undoubtedly lead the entire district into a new era of growth and continued success.”
A Southern California native, Gamboa was raised in Compton, California, and attended Paramount High School. Her upbringing and community played a significant role in shaping her commitment to public service. The daughter of Mexican immigrants Trinidad and Candido Gamboa, she credits her parents with instilling in her the values of hard work, gratitude, and making the most of every opportunity. Their encouragement to pursue the American dream and contribute meaningfully to the community continues to guide her professional journey and leadership philosophy.
As clerk/executive officer, Gamboa will draw on her two decades of experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment to public service to support the court’s justices and staff, strengthen administrative operations, and help guide the Fourth Appellate District into its next chapter.
