Federal Judge Is Moving to State Appellate Court

In a highly unusual career move, Nora M. Manella, a well-respected federal trial judge, was appointed Thursday to the state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles, giving up lifetime tenure.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s appointment of Manella, a Studio City Democrat, comes just two weeks after the state GOP called on the Republican governor to name more members of his own political party to the bench.

Manella, whose father was a founder of the Los Angeles law firm of Irell & Manella, said she applied for a seat on the state appellate bench because she’s “always been somewhat of an appellate wonk.”

“What I like most about judging is deciding difficult issues.”

She will miss the interaction with lawyers at the trial level, she said, but looks forward to “the intellectual heavy lifting of the appellate court.”

Manella’s nomination must be confirmed by the state Commission on Judicial Appointments. An April 10 hearing has been set in Los Angeles. If approved, she will succeed Justice Gary Hastings, who retired.

Despite her political party affiliation, Manella, 55, has received appointments from more Republicans than Democrats throughout her legal career. Republican Gov. George Deukmejian appointed her to Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1990, and Republican Gov. Pete Wilson elevated her to the Los Angeles County Superior Court two years later.

She also was U.S. attorney for the Central District of California from 1994 until 1998, when President Clinton named her to the federal trial bench. She won unanimous approval of the Republican-led U.S. Senate.

“She’s perfect for the job,” said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School and a friend of Manella. “She’s so smart. She’s so experienced. She’s a virtual judicial powerhouse -- and a class act.”

Yet Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, would have preferred a Republican powerhouse. “The governor has a dismal record when it comes to appointing Republicans to the bench,” he said.

But Beverly Hills attorney Eric George, who advises the governor on judicial appointments, said no “political party has a lock on great jurists.”

Few federal judges switch to the state courts unless it’s for a coveted seat on the state Supreme Court. Lifetime tenure is considered a major benefit of the federal bench, but in recent years more federal judges are retiring earlier because of overwhelming criminal caseloads and little discretion, especially in sentencing.

In her new job, Manella will face election every 12 years. She also will receive a pay raise from $165,200 to $170,694.