CWSL Alumna Devon L. Lomayesva ’99 Appointed Judge

Oct 15 2024
Devon Lomayesva's headshot.
Devon Lomayesva's headshot.

SAN DIEGO (October 16, 2024) -- California Western School of Law (CWSL) is pleased to announce that Devon L. Lomayesva ’99, of San Diego County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Diego County Superior Court. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Harry Powazek.

Lomayesva has been Chief Judge at the Intertribal Court of Southern California since 2016. She has been a Sole Practitioner since 2014. Lomayesva was a Pro Tem Judge at the Intertribal Court of Southern California from 2015 to 2016 and Tribal Attorney for the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians from 2013 to 2014. She was Executive Director at California Indian Legal Services from 2007 to 2012 and In-House Counsel for the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel from 2004 to 2007. She was Directing Attorney at California Indian Legal Services from 2003 to 2004 and a Staff Attorney there from 1999 to 2002. Lomayesva was a Staff Attorney at the California Indian Lands Office from 2002 to 2003. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law.  

During her time at California Western, Lomayesva became the founding president of the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) and was instrumental in advocating for the first ever Federal Indian Law course to be taught at the law school.  She interned at California Indian Legal Services as a 2L and 3L, while also working on campus in Student & Minority Affairs.

Click here to read Governor Newsom’s full press release.