---
title: "Martin N. Buchanan | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-n-buchanan-ca"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Martin N. Buchanan

California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District · Associate Justice

## Profile

- Court: California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District
- State: California
- Role: Associate Justice
- Service status: active

## Summary

Martin N. Buchanan — California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District

## Sources

- [Justices | Fourth Appellate District](https://appellate.courts.ca.gov/district-courts/4dca/justices)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- As of 2026, Justice Buchanan has authored numerous appellate opinions across areas such as family law, employment law, criminal procedure, torts, and civil procedure Daily Journal
- Partner at Niddrie, Fish & Buchanan LLP (2005–2010)
- Research attorney for the 4th District Court of Appeal (2003–2004)
- Law clerk to Judge Robert F. Peckham, Northern District of California

### Education

- Harvard Law School — J.D.
- Brown University — B.A.

### Additional information

- Governor Newsom nominated Buchanan in March 2022.
- Martin N. Buchanan is an Associate Justice of Division One of the California Court of Appeal, appointed in May 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom and confirmed through a 2022 retention election
- Buchanan had nearly 35 years as an appellate lawyer
- Marriage of Jessica L. and Sammer Z. (Family Law)



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [California Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e59897426ff892cfcd8e0103) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/one/rule1_150). Collected 2026-07-26.