Rosendo Peña, Jr.

Education:

UCLA Law School, 1980, JD,
Member La Raza Law Students Assoc., 1977-1980
Student Bar Representative, 1978 to 1979

California State University, Fresno, 1977, BA
Major—Political Science, Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society,
Founding Member of Chicanos in Law Club,
Minor—La Raza Studies

Parlier High School, 1973
Student Body President, graduated 1973

California Bar Member effective 1980

Appointed Judge of the Superior Court by Governor Gray Davis, October 21, 2002

• Assignments: Juvenile Delinquency (3/12-12/12), General Jury Trials (1/11 to 3/12), Felony Home Court (11/06 to 1/11), CEQA Judge (1/03 to 11/06, 1/11 to 12/12), Kingsburg Division – Criminal, Civil court trials, writs of mandate (9/04 to 11/06), Juvenile Delinquency (11/03 to 8/04), Misc. Calendar (1/03 to 10/03)

Legal Experience:

• Deputy, State Public Defender’s Office, Los Angeles, 1981 to 1983
• Lead Attorney, Court of Appeal, Fifth District, 1983 to 1990, and 1994 to 2002
• Deputy, State Attorney General’s Office, Fresno, 1990 to 1992
• Associate Counsel, Hernandez & Ramirez Law Offices, 1992 to 1994

The areas of legal emphasis and expertise during course of 22-year legal career were criminal and civil appellate law.

Community Activities:

• Member of La Raza Lawyers in Fresno, 1984-2002, Honorary Member 2003-Present
  • Treasurer, 1987
  • President, 1988
  • Executive Board Member, 1989, 1991, 1996-2002
• Member of Latin American Business Club, 1990-2000
  • Secretary, 1993, 1995
  • President, 1996
  • Board Chairman, 1997
• Member of the Fresno County Bar Association, 1989-2002
• Member of the Madera County Bar Association, 1992-1994
• Board Member of Central California Legal Services, Inc. 1989-1992
• Community Advisor to Fresno State Chicanos in Law Club, 1988-1990
• Little League Head Coach, 1984-1986
• Adjunct Law Professor at San Joaquin College of Law, 1994-2000, Advanced Legal Research and Writing Course
• Judge Pro Tem for Small Claims Court, 1998-2002
• Member of the California Judges Association, 2003 to Present
• Member of the California Latino Judges Association, 2006 to Present
• Board Trustee of the Fresno County Law Library, 2003-2005, 2010
• Vice Chair of the Fresno Superior Court Mock Trial Program, 2006-2008
• Participant, Summit on Diversity in the Judiciary, June 2006, San Jose, CA
• Judicial Participant, Conference on Foreign Relations in Mexico City by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Institute of Mexicans in the Exterior, September 2008
• North Fresno Rotary Member, 2008-2022
• Board Member of the Fresno State Alumni Association, 2008-2016
• Committee Member of 2011 Central Valley Hispanic Youth Institute (Hispanic College Fund), Hispanic Heroes Participant
• Member of Fresno Unified School District Graduation Task Force 3/12 to 12/12
• Member of the Appellate Legacy Project Committee, 2013 to Present
• Member of the Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force, 2016-2018
• Member of the Jury Selection Work Group, 2020-2022
• 5th DCA Representative, California Judicial Mentor Program (Appellate), 2022 to Present