Erica Yew

Erica Yew was appointed to the California Superior Court, Santa Clara County, in 2001 as the first AAPI female to serve on this court. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner in the law firms of Robinson & Wood, Inc. and McManis, Faulkner & Morgan. She retired from the court after 24 years in January 2026. She joined ALFSV as its CEO in February 2026, bringing decades of visionary leadership, judicial excellence, and a deep commitment to strengthening communities throughout Silicon Valley. Yew has a track record of national, state, and local leadership. She is the only judge in California’s history to have served in these multiple leadership positions: She was the President of the 2300-member California Judges Association in 2023-2024; she chaired the California Commission on Judicial Performance, a watchdog agency that ensures all California judges adhere to high ethical standards; she was the President of both the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Judicial Council and the California Asian Pacific American Judges Association; she served on the California Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Ethics Opinions, the California Judicial Council, the California Access to Justice Commission, and the board of the National Center for State Courts. She is a Senior Fellow of ALFSV (Class XV) and she received its highest honor, the John W. Gardner award, in 2014. Other honors include the Santa Clara County Bar Association Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, Women of the Year Award from the California State Assembly, recognition from the California AAPI Legislative Caucus, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Yew is also an accomplished educator, having taught on judicial ethics, access to justice, and, most recently, on the impact of generative AI on litigants and the courts. With this appointment, ALFSV reaffirms its mission “to join and strengthen diverse leaders to serve the common good.” Through its signature year-long Fellows Program, ALF brings together leaders from across sectors to engage in dialogue, support a thriving Silicon Valley community, and forge lasting relationships. This unique approach enhances Fellows’ capacity to address critical public issues collaboratively, thanks to a dynamic, curated network of nearly 850 leaders now 39 years in the making. For more, please see: https://www.alfsv.org/erica-yew/