California’s judiciary has gained a seasoned practitioner with deep expertise in alternative dispute resolution and civil rights law with the appointment of Chhaya Malik to the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Indian American jurist Malik’s appointment to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Socrates P. Manoukian.
Malik enters her new judicial role equipped with over twenty years of varied legal experience spanning public service, private practice, and policy advocacy. Her background blends high-level mediation work with extensive involvement in civil litigation and regulatory frameworks.
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Prior to her appointment, Malik served as the deputy director of dispute resolution at the California Civil Rights Department, a position she held beginning in 2022.
Before joining the state department, she operated as a mediator at Devi Legal Mediation Services from 2020 to 2022. Her private sector credentials also include serving as special counsel at Ehrlich & Craig from 2012 to 2022.
Her public service footprint extends to federal and non-profit roles. Malik worked as a policy liaison with the U.S. Department of State from2011 to 2012,
Earlier, from 2009 to 2011, she served as a staff attorney at the Advancement Project. She launched her legal career as an associate at Hogan Lovells, practicing there from 2005 to 2009.
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Malik earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Local court leadership welcomed the addition of Malik to the judicial roster bringing her decades of diverse legal background to the Santa Clara County court system.
Malik’s “extensive experience in dispute resolution, civil rights, public policy, and private practice will bring a valuable perspective to our bench,” said Presiding Judge Julie A. Emede. “We look forward to working alongside her as we continue our commitment to providing fair, accessible, and effective justice to the people of Santa Clara County.”