SACRAMENTO — When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger first expressed a desire to appoint more judges of ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds, some leaders of minority bar associations were skeptical. They expected him to appoint relatively few, the practice of previous Republican governors. But the skeptics have been proved wrong, as growing numbers of experienced lawyers who belong to minority groups are applying for judgeships — and being appointed to the bench — as part of Schwarzenegger's effort to diversify courtrooms throughout the state. About 22 percent of Schwarzenegger's judicial appointees to date identify themselves as Asian-American, Latino or African-American, up from...