Chief Justice’s chambers attorney gets promotion

California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has announced her new principal attorney: Sunil “Neil” Gupta.

His role will be to advise the chief on administration and policy issues and to serve as liaison to the State Bar, the Commission on Judicial Performance and the Legislature.

“His intellect and insight will be immensely valuable as we address important issues facing our court, the legal profession, and the entire judicial branch,” Cantil-Sakauye said in a press release.

Gupta’s appointment follows a tradition of elevating veteran attorneys from within the high court. He has been with the state Supreme Court since 2007, starting as a staff attorney focused on drafting orders and opinions with a focus on capital appeals and habeas corpus petitions. In 2010, he became chambers attorney to Cantil-Sakauye, drafting civil and criminal opinions.

He has spent his entire career doing complex, behind-the-scenes legal work. He clerked for the Law Offices of Johnnie Cochran, Peter Neufeld & Barry Scheck and interned at the Innocence Project, working on the organization’s first comprehensive study of wrongful convictions.

Gupta could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

After leaving UC Berkeley in 2000 with undergraduate and law degrees, he spent almost seven years in staff and research attorney roles with the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

He replaces Carin T. Fujisaki, who held the job since 2015. She capped a 28-year career with the state Supreme Court last month when Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her to the 1st District Court of Appeal, Division Three. She was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on Monday.