City Attorney Chiu applauds the move to elevate Lianne Dumas to the San Francisco Superior Court bench
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 30, 2025) — Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Lianne Dumas, Deputy City Attorney on the City Attorney’s Office’s Dependency and Mental Health Team, to serve as a Judge in the San Francisco County Superior Court. Dumas brings over 13 years of legal experience to the bench and deep expertise in mental health, dependency, and child welfare law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow.
“Lianne has deep experience working to solve some of the most difficult problems facing our communities,” said City Attorney David Chiu. “Her perspective will be invaluable to have on the bench. We are incredibly proud of Lianne, and know she will bring a strong sense of justice, fairness and compassion to every decision she makes.
Background
Dumas joined the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office as a Deputy City Attorney in 2019. While serving on the Office’s Dependency and Mental Health Team, Dumas litigated numerous jury and bench trials under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, Laura’s Law, and the CARE Act. She managed various mental health public policy issues as well as provided legal advice to San Francisco’s Public Conservator’s Office, Department of Disability and Aging Services, and Department of Public Health.
She was instrumental in the drafting and passage of SB 43, which modernized the 60-year-old definition of grave disability and better-aligned the practice of medicine with legal procedures in conservatorship cases. She also handled first-impression jury trials under the new statute, implemented CARE Act Court in San Francisco, and trained attorneys and mental health practitioners statewide on mental health law, developments in the field, and best practices.
Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Dumas worked at the Judicial Council of California and was the Owner at LMD Legal Aid, handling juvenile and criminal cases. She also taught at the University of San Francisco and Golden Gate University Schools of Law.
Dumas earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton. She is originally from Yucaipa, California, a rural community in the Inland Empire. In her free time, Lianne consults for the California State Bar, mentors aspiring lawyers, is an avid swimmer, and enjoys spending time with her family.
Deputy City Attorneys on the Bench
The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office has seen a number of former deputies elevated to the bench in recent years. Other former deputy city attorneys who went on to serve in the San Francisco Superior Court include Judges Loretta M. Giorgi, Anne-Christine Massullo, Joseph Quinn, Monica F. Wiley, Christine Van Aken, and the late Andrew Y.S. Cheng. Most recently, Governor Newsom appointed former Deputy City Attorney Julie Wilensky to serve on the Alameda County Superior Court. Former Deputy City Attorney Tamiza Hockenhull also serves on the Alameda County Superior Court.
Former Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese M. Stewart, Co-Chief of Appellate Litigation Jeremy Goldman, and Chief of Appellate Litigation and former Chief of Complex and Special Litigation Danny Y. Chou serve on the California Court of Appeal for the First District. Former Deputy City Attorney Miguel Márquez served on the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth District from 2012-2016.
Former Deputy City Attorney Vince Chhabria was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2014 to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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