Associate Justice, Fifth Appellate District

BAR ADMISSION: Admitted to California Bar in December 1980

EDUCATION: University of California, Davis, J.D.; California State University, Fresno, B.A., summa cum laude; B.E. Witkin Judicial College of California (1988; 1992).

PROFESSIONAL LEGAL BACKGROUND: Deputy District Attorney, Kern County (November 1981-August 1986) prosecuted general felonies and consumer fraud cases; associate with private law firm (Kuhs and Parker) handled business litigation matters.

JUDICIAL BACKGROUND: Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Fifth District (November 1995 to date); Superior Court Kern County (July 1991-November 1995); Bakersfield Municipal Court (August 1986-June 1991); Special Master, Judicial disciplinary proceedings, appointed by California Supreme Court (1990).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/ASSOCIATIONS/AFFILIATIONS: Member of Judicial Council Appellate Advisory Committee; President of California Judges Foundation (1995-1996); Chair of the “Meet Your Judges Forum” for Kern County; Member of Court Technology and Public Information Committees.

EDUCATIONAL/PROFESSIONAL HONORS AND AWARDS: Selected Outstanding Jurist for 1997 by Kern County Bar Association; recipient of Pauline Davis Hanson Award (1997); honored by MADD for developing Youthful Driving Under the Influence Program (1989-1990); selected Outstanding Senior at California State University, Fresno (1975).

PROFESSIONAL TEACHING/EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Former faculty member California Pacific School of Law; faculty member B.E. Witkin Judicial College and Appellate Attorneys Institute; Chair of California Judges Association/Rutter Group joint legal education program on Expert Witnesses; frequent lecturer on Legal Ethics.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Advisor/Judge to Kern Teen Alternative Sentencing Program; former member Board of Directors, American Red Cross, Kern County Chapter; former board member St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Bakersfield.