Fil-Am elected Superior Court judge in Alameda County, California

Judge-elect Llamas is the first Filipino/Japanese-American judicial officer to serve in Alameda County and is the first ever to be elected as a judge in all of Northern California. WEBSITE

OAKLAND, California – Commissioner Pelayo A. Llamas, Jr. was elected as Judge of the Superior Court of California for the County of Alameda, Office #12.  According to the Alameda County Election site as of 8 p.m, last night. He ran unopposed

Commissioner Llamas received 66,391 votes / 100%. Mail-in ballots are not expected to change the result.   Judge-elect Llamas will take office on January 3, 2023.

Judge-elect Llamas is the first Filipino/Japanese-American judicial officer to serve in Alameda County and is the first ever to be elected as a judge in all of Northern California. He was endorsed by over 45 Superior Court judicial officers, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and dozens of Alameda County elected officials.  He is a past board member and officer of the Alameda County Bar Association, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, and the Earl Warren American Inn of Court.

Since 2019, Judge-elect Llamas has served as a Superior Court Commissioner in Alameda County in criminal and civil law assignments.  Previously, he was a deputy city attorney for over 18 years at the Oakland City Attorney’s Office. He started his legal career at the Oakland Firm Larson & Burnham in 1992, followed by a year at Berding & Weil (currently in Walnut Creek).

He earned his JD law degree from Santa Clara University in 1992 where he received a Law Faculty Scholarship, was elected to the Student Bar Association, and participated in the Asian Pacific Law Students Association.  He was awarded his AB bachelor’s from UC Berkeley in 1986 where he participated in UC Jazz Ensembles.  He is a graduate of El Cerrito High School and has been an Oakland resident since 1992.

“As the first member of my family born in the United States, this achievement is a proud moment for us.  All immigrants come to America seeking the opportunity to advance based on hard work and dedication.  That is the promise of America and the virtue of our society.  I hope that more Filipino Americans in particular will consider a path of public service and seek public office in order to protect everyone’s ability to have a brighter future.  With my new responsibility I look forward to serving all the people of Alameda County as a Superior Court Judge,” Llamas vows.

Judge-elect Llamas’ has been committed to public service in a family tradition that reaches back 100 years in the Philippines. His grandfather Vicente Llamas was a Justice of the Peace, City Councilor, and Provincial Governor in Laguna Province under Spanish and American rule. His father was a career Ambassador and his uncle Carlos P. Romulo and cousin Roberto R. Romulo both served under the administrations of nine different presidencies, including the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Judge-elect Llamas states “I thank everyone who voted for and supported me over the years.  This victory is the result of many years of effort and dedication.  I pledge to serve the law and the people with distinction and empathy.”