President's Message

DBA Luncheon - January 22, 2010: "Do's and Don'ts of Appearing Before Our Indio Superior Court Judges" - an informal panel discussion with five of our local Superior Court Judges; Desert Willow Golf Resort Club, 38995 Desert Willow Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260, 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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DBA Luncheon - February 19, 2010 - "Employment Law Update"

 

The Bird Awards 2010 will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Sun City Palm Desert.

 

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Announcements / Articles

 

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER APPOINTS FOUR TO RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

On March 26, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of Samuel Diaz Jr., David A. Gunn, Kelly L. Hansen and Mark E. Johnson to judgeships to judgeships in the Riverside County Superior Court.

Diaz, 45, of Riverside, has worked as a supervising deputy public defender for the Riverside County Public Defender's Office since 2007. Prior to that, he was a sole practitioner from 1998 to 2007 and was a deputy public defender for the Riverside County Public Defender's Office from 1994 to 1998. He was an associate with Stockdale, Peckham & Warner from 1992 to 1994. Diaz earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Western State University College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephen D. Cunnison.

Gunn, 52, of San Clemente, has worked as a deputy public defender for the San Bernardino County Public Defender's Office since 2007. From 1987 to 2007, he was a sole practitioner and, from 1982 to 1987, Gunn served as a deputy district attorney for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. Gunn fills the vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position on June 10, 2008.

Hansen, 44, of Murrieta, has served as chief deputy district attorney since 2007 and a deputy district attorney from 2002 to 2007 for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. Prior to that, he worked for the San Diego County District Attorney's Office where he served as a deputy district attorney from 1992 to 2002. Hansen earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Brigham Young University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rodney Walker.

Johnson, 50, of Murrieta, has worked as a senior deputy public defender for the Riverside County Public Defender's Office since 2007 and from 2000 to 2005. Prior to that, he worked as a sole practitioner from 1993 to 1999. From 1992 to 1993, Johnson was an associate for the William K. Gamble Law Firm and, from 1990 to 1992, was an associate with Bawden, Tyler and Johnson. Johnson earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeast Louisiana University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James T. Warren. Presiding Judge Thomas H. Cahraman remarked, "I am very pleased that the Governor has appointed these four outstanding new judges. Each will contribute greatly to the work that the court does."