Downing appointed to the Los Angeles bench
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Downing |
Marguerite Downing, vice president of the State Bar Board of Governors, was
appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Gov. Schwarzenegger last
month. Downing, 48, was one of 18 appointments announced by the governor, including
nine women and at least five minorities. Democratic legislative leaders and
minority groups have criticized the governor in recent months for a lack of
diversity in his judicial appointments.
Downing was named to one of the 50 new positions authorized by SB56. The Judicial
Council has estimated California needs 355 new judgeships to meet the state’s
growing caseload.
A deputy public defender since 1989, Downing currently handles central misdemeanor
arraignments and serves as a mentor trainer in her office. She has been the
supervising attorney in the juvenile unit and served in the felony unit and
the juvenile misdemeanor unit as well.
She recently chaired the bar’s civility task force, which developed
voluntary civility guidelines designed to restrain unprofessional behavior
by attorneys.
Downing is married and has two grown children and a 10-year-old daughter.
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