Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara Announces Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for 2025-2026

SAN JOSÉ, CA (September 23, 2022) : The Judges of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, convened for their biennial election on September 20, 2024, to select the Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge for the upcoming two-year term.

The Honorable Julie A. Emede has been elected as Presiding Judge, while the Honorable Eric S. Geffon has been selected as Assistant Presiding Judge. Their terms will officially begin on January 1, 2025 .

Judge Emede, currently serving as Assistant Presiding Judge, will succeed the Honorable Beth McGowen , whose term as Presiding Judge concludes on December 31, 2024 . Judge Emede, a graduate of UC Law San Francisco, will be the third consecutive alum from the institution to serve as Presiding Judge.

"I am optimistic about the future of our court and community as we work to enhance the Court’s functionality in an ever-evolving judicial landscape, under the capable leadership of Judges Emede and Geffon," said Presiding Judge McGowen. "We are fortunate to have such experienced and respected judicial leaders guiding us forward."

The Presiding Judge oversees court operations and ensures the proper administration of justice, as outlined by the California Rules of Court . The Assistant Presiding Judge assists in these duties and acts on behalf of the Presiding Judge when needed.

Julie A. Emede – Presiding Judge-Elect

Julie A. Emede was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench in December 2009 and is currently serving as a trial judge in the Civil Division.  Judge Emede has previously served in the Criminal Domestic Violence Court, Provisional Remedies and Appellate Division, Probate Court, Family Court, and Misdemeanor Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was a family law attorney, where she handled all aspects of family law cases including marital/domestic partnership dissolutions, adoptions, guardianships, and court-appointed representation of children. Judge Emede is a presenter at various judicial and continuing legal education seminars, and previously taught Community Property and Family Law at Santa Clara University School of Law.  She received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and her juris doctor from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. 

Eric S. Geffon – Assistant Presiding Judge-Elect

Judge Eric Geffon graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 1992 with degrees in Economics and Philosophy.  He obtained his law degree from Santa Clara University in 1995 and began his career in the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, where he worked from 1995-2001.  In 2001 he left to form his own criminal defense firm, Geffon & Isger.  He continued to work as a criminal defense lawyer until 2014, when he was appointed to the bench. 

Since being appointed, Judge Geffon has worked in both the criminal and civil divisions of the court.  Judge Geffon was the supervising judge for the criminal division in 2020 and 2021, and the assistant supervising judge of the civil division in 2024.