California Governor Jerry Brown has appointed an Iranian-American immigrant to serve in Santa Clara County Superior Court as a judge. Brown’s pick, prosecutor Nahal Iravani-Sani (Democrat), emigrated from Iran to the United States in 1979 when she was just 10 years old. Iravani-Sani has been a prosecutor for 22 years.
“I truly feel humbled to be chosen and honored to serve the community,” Iravani-Sani said.
Now 48, she is married with a son in high school and another in his freshman year in college. According to the Mercury News Iravani-Sani is “known for her friendly, collegial manner.” She’s taught at the Stanford Law School’s Trial Advocacy Clinic since 2013 and was a lecturer at the Santa Clara University’s law school in trial techniques from 2006 to 2013. In addition to being a former PAAIA Board Member, Iravani-Sani is also a member of the Iranian American Bar Association Board of Advisors and the Pars Equality Center Advisory Board. She went to law school at Santa Clara University after graduating from the University of California-Irvine.
PAAIA released the following statement congratulating their former Board Member:
“PAAIA congratulates Nahal Iravani-Sani on her appointment to a judgeship in Santa Clara County. As an immigrant from Iran, Iravani-Sani has faced injustice and adversity, only to reinforce her commitment to fairness and equality and heighten her appreciation of the freedoms and opportunities her adopted country affords its citizens. For over twenty years, Iravani-Sani has been representing the people of the State of California in a variety of capacities, including as Deputy District Attorney.
“As the first Iranian American judge appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court, PAAIA and the Iranian American community are proud of Iravani-Sani’s dedication to uncompromising fairness, respect, and dignity in court as well as her compassionate understanding of the need for justice.”
