Candidate for
Justice, California State Court of Appeal; District 1, Division 5

Justice Terry Bruiniers was appointed to the First District Court of Appeal, Division Five in June 2009 after serving over ten years on the Contra Costa Superior Court. He was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on July 30, 2009.

Appointed to the Contra Costa Superior Court in September 1998, he served in the Criminal, Family Law, and Civil Divisions, and for three years as the specially assigned judge in the Complex Litigation Department. During his tenure in Complex Litigation, he established one of the first programs in the state for electronic filing of court documents, and has recently helped implement an electronic filing program in the First District. The Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association named him Trial Judge of the Year in 2005. He served as Supervising Judge in both Criminal and Family Law assignments, and was elected by his colleagues to serve as Presiding Judge of the court from 2007 through 2008.

Justice Bruiniers has been a member of the statewide Court Technology Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council since 1999 and was appointed Chair of that committee by the Chief Justice. He has also served as the elected Vice-Chair of the Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee (2007-2008).

Before his appointment to the bench he practiced law for eighteen years in the San Francisco firm of Farrand, Cooper & Bruiniers, handling business and commercial litigation, as well as maintaining a business transactional practice representing national and international clients in technology related matters. Prior to establishing his private practice, he worked as Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County from 1973 through 1980, prosecuting a broad range of crimes, including capital cases.

While attending Cal, he worked as a Berkeley Police officer during the turbulent years from 1967 to 1973. He also served in the United States Marine Corp reserve from 1965 through 1971. He is a 1969 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and a 1973 honors graduate of Boalt Hall (Order of the Coif).

He has been married to his wife, Sue, since 1969. They have one adult daughter.