Gov. Newsom Appoints 2 Armenians to Judicial Posts
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of two Armenian-Americans to state judicial posts on Thursday.
Newsom nominated Judge Armen Tamzarian, of Los Angeles County, to serve as an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
The governor also appointed Melissa Baloian, of Fresno County, to serve as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court.
Tamzarian has served as a judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2013. He was a lead appellate court attorney at the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Three from 2008 to 2013.
He was an associate and later a partner at Case, Knowlson, Jordan & Wright LLP from 1997 to 2008. Tamzarian was a research attorney at the Los Angeles Superior Court from 1996 to 1997. Judge Tamzarian received a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. Pending her confirmation, Tamzarian will fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Helen Zukin to Presiding Justice.
Tamzarian’s position requires confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
Baloian has worked as a solo practitioner since 2023. She was a Supervising Attorney at The Matian Firm from 2022 to 2023. She worked as a Solo Practitioner at the Law Office of Melissa Baloian from 2011 to 2022.
Baloian served as a Deputy District Attorney at the Madera County District Attorney’s Office in 2011. She worked as a Deputy District Attorney at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 2007 to 2010.
Baloian served as a Deputy City Attorney at the Fresno City Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2007. She served as a Deputy Public Defender at the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office from 2004 to 2006.
She received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco, School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Adolfo Corona. Baloian is registered as no party preference.
