Full Biography for Manuel A. Ramirez

Candidate for
Justice, California State Court of Appeal; District 4 Division 2

Position

Justice - Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two
"<http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/courtsofappeal/4thDistrictDiv2/justices.htm>"

Personal

Born 1948 - Los Angeles, California
Married 27 years - four children

Educational Background

J.D., Loyola University School of Law (now Loyola Law School), Los Angeles, 1974

Graduate of Whittier College 1970. Major: political science and international relations

Judicial Education Courses: Chief Judges Conference, 1992, 1995

Miscellaneous Continuing Education of the Bar courses

Professional Background

Admitted to California Bar in 1976 and to practice before the Federal Central District

Deputy District Attorney, Orange County, 1976-1983 - misdemeanor prosecutions, writs and appeals, felony panel assignment (major felony cases, including death penalty), charter member of sexual assault and vertical prosecution unit, and Assistant Division Chief, Family Support Unit

Judge - Municipal Court - law and motion, small claims, traffic, felony arraignment and preliminary hearing calendars, and misdemeanor jury trials - 1983-1986 - appointed by Governor George Deukmejian

Judge - Superior Court - civil, criminal, junvenile, adoptions and minor's compromises, and mental health departments - 1986-1990 - appointed by Governor George Deukmejian

Presiding Justice - Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two - 1990-date - appointed by Govenor George Deukmejian

Associate Justice pro tempore, California Supreme Court - three occasions: 1992, 1994, 1995 (see Menendez v. Superior Court (1992) 3 Cal.4th 435; Applied Equipment Corp v. Litton Saudi Arabia Ltd. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 503; In re Sassounian (1995) 9 Cal.4th 535

Profesional Activities

California Judges Association (member, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)

Riverside County Bar Association (honorary member)

Orange County Bar Association (member, 1976 [honorary since 1983])

Orange County Deputy District Attorneys Association (member, including offices of Secretary-Treasurer and Board member, 1980-1983)

Orange County Mexican-American Bar Association (member, 1976-1983)

Educational and Professional Honors and Awards

Richard M. Nixon Scholarship Award, Whittier College

Richard M. Heyden Memorial Scholarship, Whittier College

Outstanding Hispanic Alumni Award, Whittier College

Constitutional Rights Trial Judge of the Year, 1989

Developmental Disabilities Center of Orange County Trial Judge of the Year, 1989

California State Senate Certificate of Recognition, John Seymour, 35th Senate District, 1990

Serafines De Orange County Judge of the Year, 1990

Loyola University School of Law (now Loyola Law School), Outstanding Hispanic Alumni Award, 1991

Teaching and Educational Activities

Continuing panelist - Riverside County Office of Education, Superintendents' Legal Seminar, 1992-date. Topics: First Amendment Rights for Students; District and Superintendent Liability Regarding Student Harassment and Sexual Abuse; School Security and Safety: Crime and Violence on School Campuses; Religion in the Schools; Drug Testing of Students and Employees

Orange County Mock Trial Judge - 1984 to present

Instructor - Paralegal Studies, University of California Irvine, Extension Program, 1988-1996

Commencement speaker - San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy graduating class, 1991-1993

Faculty, Seminar Leader - California Judicial College, Berkeley, 1986

Community Activities

Inaugural member and co-founder - Casita de San José (home for abused children), 1983-1986

Charter member, co-founder and co-chairman - Efren Herrera Scholarship Foundation, 1987-1996

Volunteer - Adopt-a-Class Program, 1988-1997

Volunteer cook for the homeless - Southwest Community Center, Santa Ana, 1993 to date

Coach - Little League, soccer, National Junior Basketball, Pop Warner Football and Bobettes Baseball, 1968-1996