Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lisa Kalustian
Chief Deputy Director
300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213)897-0322
FAX (213)897-0319
Lisa.kalustian@gov.ca.gov<mailto: Lisa.kalustian@gov.ca.gov>

Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Benjamin Davidian, of Gold River, to the
Sacramento Superior Court, and Kenneth Melikian, of El Dorado Hills, to the El Dorado Superior Court. See below for more information.

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 26, 2009

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Four to Sacramento County Superior
Court

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of
Thadd A. Blizzard, Benjamin G. Davidian, Geoffrey A. Goodman and
Louis R. Mauro to judgeships with the Sacramento County Superior
Court.

Davidian, 57, of Gold River, has been a sole practitioner since
2005. He was a partner at Sweeney, Davidian & Greene since 2004 and
Bell, McAndrews, Hiltachk & Davidian from 2000 to 2004. From 1995 to
2000, he was of counsel for Wilke, Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney
from 1981 to 1987, Davidian was an associate, then partner for Wilke,
Fleury, Hoffelt, Gould & Birney and, from 1980 to 1981, he was an
associate for Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon. Davidian earned a Juris
Doctorate degree from University of California, Hastings College of
the Law and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah.
He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gerald
Bakarich. Davidian is a Republican.

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Two to El Dorado County Superior
Court

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of
Nelson Keith Brooks and Kenneth J. Melikian to judgeships in the El
Dorado County Superior Court.

Melikian, 56, of El Dorado Hills, has served as an assistant
U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of
California since 1991. Prior to that, he worked as a deputy district
attorney for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office from 1988 to
1991 and held the same position with the San Bernardino County
District Attorney’s Office from 1978 to 1988. Melikian earned a Juris
Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California School of
Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College. He fills the
vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on
September 23, 2008. Melikian is a Republican.

The compensation for each position is $178,789.

###