A Chamorro lawyer has been appointed as a judge to the Santa Clara, California Superior Court. 51-year old former Guam resident Johnny Cepeda Gogo was one of eleven new state-wide appointees announced Saturday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Gogo has been a deputy district attorney at the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office since 2001. He's says he's very grateful for the judicial appointment, which is still sinking in.

"Personally, it's a huge accomplishment. Second, obviously being Chamorro, it's an honor to be representing our community of Guam on the California bench," he added.

He says there are two other Chamorro Judges in California that he knows of, the recently retired Judge Ronald Quidachay, and Judge Jacqueline Arroyo who's still on the bench.

Since moving to the San Francisco Bay area he's been recognized for many community outreach programs, including helping to remove over 4,000 unwanted firearms, and a donation drive in which more than two thousand unused cell phones were given to victims in domestic violence shelters.

"Here in Santa Clara County, we actually have a fantastic community outreach program that I was involved with as an attorney and now will continue to be part of as a member of the bench. Again lastly, my Chamorro heritage will help me inspire the younger generation of Chamorros who are interested in pursuing a career in law and ultimately building on that career in law and applying to the bench,' he explained.

He's the son of Jesus Crisostomo Gogo of Sinajana, and Remedios Dydasco Cepeda of Barrigada. His military father retired in the states, and Gogo went on to earn his Law degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.

He was offered his first job at the Guam Attorney General's Office where he worked from 1997 to 1999, and was also an associate with the former local law firm Calvo and Clark from 2000 to 2001.