Yolo Superior Court Elects PJ and APJ

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF YOLO

Shawn C. Landry, Court Executive Officer and Jury Commissioner
1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 406-6828 | Juryinfo@yolo.courts.ca.gov

The Judges of the Yolo County Superior Court have elected Judge Sonia Cortés to serve as Presiding Judge and Judge Catherine "Kay" Rayhill to serve as Assistant Presiding Judge for the 2027-2028 term. Their two-year terms will begin on January 1, 2027.

Outgoing Presiding Judge Tom Dyer congratulated Judges Cortés and Rayhill on their election and expressed confidence in their leadership of the Court, stating “Congratulations to Judges Cortés and Rayhill on their election as Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge. Both are distinguished jurists whose well-established careers reflect an enduring dedication to the service of justice.  Judges Cortés and Rayhill possess the unwavering integrity and thoughtfulness that will advance our Court’s public service mission.  The Court will be in good hands moving forward with them in these important roles.”

Following her election to Presiding Judge, Judge Cortés thanked her colleagues, stating “I want to thank Judge Dyer for his leadership as Presiding Judge these last two years, and I want to thank my colleagues for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve as Presiding Judge.  I look forward to collaborating with my fellow judicial officers and court staff to continue to improve access to justice for all of the communities that we serve.”

As Presiding Judge, Judge Cortés will oversee the leadership of the Court while continuing to fulfill her judicial duties. Working in partnership with the Court Executive Officer, the Presiding Judge is responsible for establishing Court policies, promoting access to justice, maximizing judicial resources, and ensuring the fair and timely resolution of cases. The Presiding Judge also serves as the Court's primary judicial leader and representative to the public and justice system partners.

As Assistant Presiding Judge, Judge Rayhill will support the Presiding Judge in carrying out these responsibilities and helping to advance the Court's mission of providing accessible, fair, and effective justice for the community.

Judge Sonia Cortés was appointed to Yolo Superior Court by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and sworn into office on September 21, 2015, and is currently serving in a criminal assignment. Since joining the bench, she has served in a variety of assignments, including Criminal, Family, Civil/Probate, Small Claims and Juvenile courts. Before her appointment, Judge Cortés served with the Yolo County Counsel’s Office for almost 13 years, including eight years as a Senior Deputy County Counsel. She is a former board member of the Yolo County Law Library Board of Trustees and former Grand Jury advisor. Judge Cortés is an active member of the California Judges Association, the California Latino Judges Association, a Board member of California Women Judges, and an Executive Board member of the Schwartz/Levi Inn of Court. Judge Cortés earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Davis. When she assumes her position in January 2027, Judge Cortés will become the first Latina/o to serve as Presiding Judge of the Yolo Superior Court.

Judge Catherine A. Rayhill was appointed to Yolo County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom and sworn into office on June 28, 2023. She currently serves in a criminal assignment and brings more than 30 years of legal and judicial experience, including service as a Yolo Superior Court Commissioner, Supervising Research Attorney, Judge Pro Tem, and Family Law Facilitator. Judge Rayhill earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College. In addition to the criminal assignment, she also currently presides over Addiction Intervention Court, Mental Health Court, and Mental Health Diversion and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the California Judges Association, the California Women Judges Association, the Schwartz Levi Inn of Court, and she was recently appointed to serve on the Yolo County Library Board of Trustees.