Sitting at the Bench

All rise, the Superior Court of San Diego County is now in session, the Honorable Michael D. Washington  presiding.  

Judge Washington was sworn in as San Diego County’s newest Superior Court Judge at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony today.  California Gov. Jerry Brown recently appointed Washington, a Republican, to serve.

Judge Washington, 54, of Temecula, brings extensive experience in criminal law to the Bench.  He has been an attorney in the San Diego County Public Defender's Office since 1994.  

Before joining the Public Defender’s office, he was a judicial extern in Federal District Court for the Honorable Rudi M. Brewster.  Since 2003, he has also served an adjunct professor at the University Of San Diego School Of Law. In addition, he works as a faculty member for both the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and Lawyers Without Borders.

Judge Washington earned a Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from San Diego State University. He fills the vacancy created by the passing of Judge George W. Clarke.