Imperial Valley News

Sacramento, California - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointments of Huey P. Cotton, David S. Cunningham III, Victor H. Greenberg, Howard L. Halm, Maren E. Nelson, Michael Terrell, Geanene Yriarte, Donald J. Proietti, Christopher B. Marshall, Ronald F. Frazier, Tamila E. Ipema, Bruce E. Chan, Beth McGowen and Susan E. Green, to judgeships in the California Superior Courts.

McGowen, 44, of Morgan Hill, has been a partner for Bingham McCutchen since 2002. Previously, she was an associate then partner with  McCutchen Doyle Brown & Enersen from 1990 to 2002. McGowen earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge C. Randall Schneider. McGowen is a Republican.

Frazier, 54, of San Diego, has been of counsel for Dietz, Gilmor & Associates since 2003 and a sole practitioner since 2000. From 1998 to 2000, he was a partner for Walters, Frazier, Caietti, Rutan & Lopez and, from 1989 to 1998, Frazier served as shareholder and director for Shifflet, Walters, Kane & Konoske. He was a shareholder for Mullen Dofflemyre & Frazier from 1985 to 1989 and an associate for Jones & Mullen from 1982 to 1985. Frazier earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton. He fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Michael M. Anello. Frazier is a Democrat.

Ipema, 52, of Oceanside, has worked as a commissioner for the San Diego County Superior Court since April 2008. Prior to that, she was a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 2005 to 2008 and a research then supervising research attorney from 2000 to 2005.  In addition, Ipema was an assistant district counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1995 to 1999 and an attorney for the Tsoi & Isel Law Offices from 1992 to 1993.  She worked as an attorney for Catholic Charities of Orange County and was a sole practitioner for the Law Offices of Tamila Marshall in 1992 and was an attorney for Kathryn E. Terry and Associates in 1991. Ipema earned a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Louisville, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Damavand College. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jan Goldsmith. Ipema is a Democrat.

Green, 38, of Yuba City, has worked for the Sutter County District Attorney’s Office as a supervising deputy district attorney since 2007 and previously served as a deputy district attorney from 1995 to 2007. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. Green fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Damron. Green is a Republican.

Chan, 52, of San Francisco, has served as a commissioner for the San Francisco County Superior Court since 2004. Previously, he served as chief counsel for the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety from 2000 to 2004 and previously served as counsel from 1999 to 2000. Chan worked for the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office as a senior trial attorney from 1989 to 1999 and as a trial attorney from 1981 to 1986. He was an associate at Ropers, Majeski, Kohn, Bentley, Wagner and Kane from 1986 to 1989. Chan earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Davis and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Conway. Chan is a Democrat.

Proietti, 54, of Merced, has served as a partner for Allen Proietti & Fagalde since 1983. He was previously an associate at the same firm from 1979 to 1982. Proietti earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson. He fills one of the new positions created by Senate Bill 56. Proietti is a Democrat.

Marshall, 57, of South Pasadena, has been an attorney with the San Bernardino County Counsel’s Office since 2007. From 1993 to 2007, he was a shareholder Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols and, from 1988 to 1993, Marshall was an associate for Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols and, Prior to that, he served as in-house counsel for Mullikin Medical Centers and Pioneer Hospital from 1986 to 1988 and was an associate at Bonne, Jones, Bridges, Mueller & O’Keefe from 1982 to 1986. Marshall earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joan Borba. Marshall is a Democrat.

Cotton, 52, of Tarzana, has served as a shareholder for Cozen O’Connor since 2001 and previously as an associate then member from 1988 to 2001. Prior to that, he worked as a senior trial attorney for the Defenders Association of Philadelphia from 1983 to 1988 and as a staff attorney for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1983. Cotton earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Temple University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David Horwitz. Cotton is a Democrat.

Cunningham, 53, of Los Angeles, has served as a principal at Meyers Nave Riback Silver & Wilson since 2007 and as a partner at Kelly Lytton & Vann since 2005. From 1994 to 2005, he was of counsel for Jackson and Lewis and, from 1989 to 1994, Cunningham was a sole practitioner. Additionally, from 1984 to 1989, he was an associate in the Beverly Hills office of Finley Kumble and, from 1983 to 1984, Cunningham was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Terry J. Hatter Jr. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Cunningham fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Xenophon F. Lang. Cunningham is a Democrat.

Greenberg, 48, of Los Angeles, has served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2000. From 1995 to 2000, he was the Children’s Services Inspector General for Los Angeles County and, from 1986 to 1995, Greenberg was an attorney representing the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Greenberg fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael R. Hoff.  Greenberg is a Democrat.

Halm, 66, of Los Angeles, has worked as an equity partner for Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker since 2000. Prior to that, he was  a shareholder, partner and associate for Breidenbach, Buckley, Huchting, Halm & Hamblet from 1975 to 2000 and a deputy attorney general for the California Department of Justice from 1969 to 1975. Halm earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Leon S. Kaplan. Halm is a Democrat.

Nelson, 52, of Hermosa Beach, has served as a commissioner for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2004. From 1987 to 2004, she was an associate, then partner for Morrison & Foerster and, from 1981 to 1987, Nelson was an associate at Overton, Lyman & Prince. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Southern California School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College. Nelson fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Deanne Smith Myers. Nelson is a Democrat.

Terrell, 51, of Northridge, has served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 1991. Prior to that, he was an associate for Rosen, Wachtell & Gilbert from 1985 to 1991 and for Reich, Adell & Crost from 1983 to 1985. Terrell earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University. He fills the position created by the retirement of Judge Ray Hart. Terrell is a Democrat.

Yriarte, 39, of Covina, has served as a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1997. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  Yriarte fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Alexander H. Williams. Yriarte is a Republican.

The compensation for each position is $178,789.