SACRAMENTO /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Beatriz M. Gordon and Dennis J. Keough to judgeships in the Orange County Superior Court. Gordon, 38, of Tustin, has served as associate general counsel for Western Dental Services since 2008. Prior to that, she was an attorney for Samuels, Green, Steel and Adams from 2007 to 2008 and an associate for Morrison and Foerster from 1996 to 2007.

Gordon earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. She fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on July 7, 2009. Gordon is a Republican.

Keough, 60, of Newport Beach, has been a court commissioner for the Orange County Superior Court since 1989, where he previously served as a referee from 1986 to 1989. Prior to that, Keough was an assistant district attorney for the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office from 1981 to 1986. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach. Keough fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James H. Poole. Keough is a Republican.

The compensation for each position is $178,789.