iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
On January 3, 2025, Monika Saini Donabed made history when she was appointed to the Merced County Superior Court, becoming the first Indian, South Asian, and Asian female judge in the county.
The Superior Court of California, County of Merced, issued a statement on January 7, expressing excitement about her appointment.
The statement highlighted Judge Donabed’s extensive experience, legal knowledge, and professional demeanor as valuable assets to the court and the community of Merced County.
Judge Donabed, born to Indian immigrants in Livingston, California, earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
She began her legal career as a deputy district attorney in Merced County from 2009 to 2014 before moving on to a similar role in Stanislaus County from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, she returned to the Merced Superior Court as a staff attorney III, a position she held until her recent appointment to the bench.
In the March 2024 election, Judge Donabed received a decisive victory, securing 63.32% of the vote, reflecting the community’s trust in her abilities. Her swearing-in ceremony, held at the Hoffmeister Center in Merced, was officiated by Judge Brian McCabe.
The City of Merced marked the occasion with an Instagram post, welcoming Judge Donabed and noting the presence of Mayor Matt Serratto and City Council members Darin DuPont, Mike Harris, and Sarah Boyle at the ceremony.
(Photo courtesy: www.facebook.com/SainiDonabed)