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Downing appointed to the Los Angeles bench

Marguerite Downing
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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