Judge Gassia Apkarian: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Orange County Superior Court, Department C25

CA Bar #: 170378 (June 1994)

Appointed By: Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Biography

Overview

The Hon. Gassia Apkarian is a judge for the Orange County Superior Court in California[1]. Apkarian was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jerry Brown on November 12, 2014, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Francisco F. Firmat[2].

While on the bench, her assignments have included criminal matters and service on the court's civil panel[1][3].

Educational background

Apkarian earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Irvine, in 1988[3]. At the University of La Verne College of Law, she completed a J.D. in 1992[3]. She was admitted to the State Bar of California (June 1994).

Career history

After graduating from law school, Apkarian worked in international development at the Armenian Assembly of America between 1992 and 1995[3]. At the organization, she first served as country executive director[3]. Later in that tenure, Apkarian held the titles of deputy executive director and western regional director[3]. Her work there included liaising with officials in Armenia and the United States and lobbying for foreign aid to Armenia[3]. In 1996, she became special assistant to the ambassador at the Embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C., remaining in that post until 1997[3]. Apkarian then served as executive director of Democrats 2000 from 1997 to 1998[3]. In 1998, she transitioned to the office of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan as a public relations advisor, a role she held until 1999[3].

Returning to Orange County, Apkarian joined the Office of the Orange County Public Defender as a deputy public defender in 2000 and continued in that capacity until 2007[3]. In 2007, she opened Apkarian Defense, APC (2007 to 2014), where her practice focused on criminal defense matters, including cases involving sex offenses, DUI charges, and theft charges[3].

Personal life

Apkarian was born in Aleppo, Syria, and was raised in Beirut, Lebanon. She was six years old when the Lebanese Civil War began, and her family moved back and forth between Lebanon and the United States before settling in Irvine, California, where she attended Woodbridge High School. By the time she finished high school, she had changed schools nine times in three countries[3]. Apkarian speaks Armenian, Arabic, French, and English.

Outside the courtroom, her civic work has included serving as a founding member of the Centre for Truth and Justice, a nonprofit formed after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war to preserve eyewitness testimony of war crimes and train young lawyers in Armenia in evidence-based interview techniques[4].

Apkarian is registered as a Democrat[5].

References

[1] Orange County Superior Court — Judicial Officers
[2] Governor of California Press Release (November 12, 2014)
[3] Daily Journal — Judicial Profile of Gassia Apkarian
[4] Centre for Truth and Justice — Judge Gassia Apkarian's Interview With CivilNet
[5] Ballotpedia — Gassia Apkarian

Recent Cases by Hon. Gassia Apkarian

ZULEIMA GOICOCHEA VS. ANDREW MICHAEL BECK

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 2026

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Superior

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Automobile

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

MIGUEL PERERA VS. SOUTHLAND INDUSTRIES

On June 15, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Jun 15, 2026

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Superior

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

YADIRA CANADA VS. MARIA MARTINEZ

On February 20, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Feb 20, 2026

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Automobile

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 22, 2026

National Funding, Inc. VS Country Place Investment LLC, Michael Candelaria

On August 4, 2025 a commercial - breach of contract case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

1 File

Filed

Aug 04, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Court Category

Commercial - Breach of Contract

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 06, 2025

National Funding, Inc. VS Country Place Investment LLC, Michael Candelaria

On August 4, 2025 a commercial - breach of contract case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

1 File

Filed

Aug 04, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Court Category

Commercial - Breach of Contract

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 07, 2025

National Funding, Inc. VS Country Place Investment LLC, Michael Candelaria

On August 4, 2025 a commercial - breach of contract case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

1 File

Filed

Aug 04, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Court Category

Commercial - Breach of Contract

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 06, 2025

National Funding, Inc. VS Country Place Investment LLC, Michael Candelaria

On August 4, 2025 a commercial - breach of settlement agreement case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

1 File

Filed

Aug 04, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Court Category

Commercial - Breach of Settlement Agreement

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 07, 2025

New Borrmann Metal Center VS Facility Makers, Inc., Cameron Kazemi

On July 26, 2025 a commercial - breach of contract case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

1 File

Filed

Jul 26, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Court Category

Commercial - Breach of Contract

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 30, 2025

LORI ANN FARRELL HARRISON VS. CITY OF COSTA MESA

On July 7, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Jul 07, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Administrative

Matter Type

Writs

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 18, 2025

SUSAN JENNINGS VS. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH

On July 2, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Jul 02, 2025

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Administrative

Matter Type

Writs

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 04, 2025

JUYING CUI VS. BRETT M BROWN

On August 13, 2024 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Aug 13, 2024

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Property

Matter Type

Unlawful Detainer

Case Last Refreshed

Mar 06, 2025

ARMS ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC VS. FALCON BRANDS, INC.

On April 29, 2024 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Gassia Apkarian presiding.

Filed

Apr 29, 2024

Judge

Hon. Gassia Apkarian 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Gassia Apkarian

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

May 01, 2024

About

Gassia Apkarian
Party Affiliation Democrat	Democrat
Current Appointment Orange County Superior Court, Department C25	Orange County Superior Court, Department C25
Election/Appointment June 7, 2022 - Re-election	June 7, 2022 - Re-election
Education J.D., University of La Verne College of Law - 1992 B.A., University of California, Irvine - 1988	J.D., University of La Verne College of Law - 1992 B.A., University of California, Irvine - 1988
Official Website www.occourts.org	www.occourts.org

Documents related to Gassia Apkarian

Court Info

Court Info
Current Court:	CA - Orange County Superior Court
Clerk phone:	+1 (657) 622–5225

Career History

Career History
Role	Employer	Where
Executive Director	Armenian Assembly of America	None
Special Assistant	Embassy of Armenia	Washington, D.C.
Executive Director	Democrats 2000	None
Public Relations Advisor	The President of the Republic of Armenia	None
Deputy Public Defender	Office of the Orange County Public Defender	Orange County, California
President	Apkarian Defense, APC	Orange County, California
Judge	Orange County Superior Court	Orange County, California