Kulkarni Becomes First Indian American State Judge in Northern California

Judge Sunil Kulkarni

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Sacramento – There was another addition to a growing list of judges of Indian American origin as Sunil Kulkarni was appointed to judgeship in the Santa Clara Superior Court, after Alka Sagar became the first Indian American female federal judge in the nation when she was sworn in last month.

Reacting to the news of his appointment, Kulkarni said, “I am honored and humbled to be the first South Asian American state court judge in Northern California.” Kulkarni told India America Today, “I’m also excited that I am part of a recent wave of South Asian American judicial appointments across the country at both state and federal levels. These recent appointments show that the South Asian American community is maturing and becoming an integral part of American government. I can’t wait for more South Asian American appointments to the bench.”

The South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC) applauded Sunil Kulkarni’s historic appointment to the California Superior Court in Santa Clara County.

 “We’re extremely proud that the Governor has chosen to appoint the first South Asian state court judge in Northern California, and that this historic appointment has been given to someone who is a pillar in our community,” said Akshay Verma, co-president of SABA-NC.

Verma continued, “It is inspirational to see someone as deserving as Mr. Kulkarni appointed to the bench. His appointment reflects an evolving judiciary that reflects the communities that it serves. SABA-NC hopes that more deserving South Asian attorneys will follow in Mr. Kulkarni’s footsteps and aspire to become a member of the bench.”

Kulkarni, 41, of Palo Alto, has been senior counsel for the University of California, Office of the General Counsel’s litigation group since 2011. He held multiple positions at Morrison and Foerster from 1998 to 2011, including partner and associate, and served as a law clerk for the Honorable Oliver W. Wagner, US District Court for the Eastern District of California, from 1996 to 1997. Kulkarni earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Kulkarni, a lifetime member of SABA-NC, served as the Endorsements Co-Chair and Vice-President of SABA-NC from 2011 to 2013. He also served as a Member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto from 2009 to 2013.

Kulkarni, a Democrat, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Marcel B. Poche, with an announced compensation of $178,789. He and his wife, Sujata Patel, a psychiatrist at Stanford University, have two girls, Asha, seven, and Leela, four.

In 2010 Indian American Paul Singh Grewal was appointed a Magistrate Judge (Federal Judge) in US District Court for the Northern District of California. India America Today interviewed Judge Grewal in 2012:

http://indiaamericatoday.com/article/interview-magistrate-judge-paul-grewal-and-expanding-role-e-discovery

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