Official bio from the CA Courts of Appeal website:
Name: Manuel A. Ramirez
Position: Presiding Justice - Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two; appointed by Governor George Deukmejian
Personal
Born 1948 - Los Angeles, California
Married 41 years - four children; two grandchildren
Professional Background
- Presiding Justice - Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Two - 1990-date - appointed by Governor George Deukmejian
- Unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments December 27, 1990; Confirmed by the electorate on November 8, 1994 and reconfirmed by the electorate November 3, 1998
- Associate Justice pro tempore, California Supreme Court - four pro tempore assignments: 1992, 1994, 1995, 2009 (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; Schachter v. Citigroup, Inc. et al. (2009) 47 Cal.4th 610).
- Judge - Superior Court - civil, criminal, juvenile, adoptions and minor's compromises, and mental health departments - 1986-1990 - appointed by Governor George Deukmejian
- 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
- 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
- Admitted to California Bar in 1976 and to practice before the Federal Central District, 1976
Educational Background
- Loyola University School of Law (now Loyola Law School), Juris Doctorate, Los Angeles, 1974
- Whittier College, Bachelor of Arts, 1970. Major: political science and international relations
- Judicial Education Courses: Chief Judges Conference, American Bar Association, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999
- Miscellaneous Continuing Education of the Bar courses, 1984 - Present, - Riverside County & San Bernardino County
- The Hague, Netherlands, Participant, International Judicial Academy, 2008
Professional Activities
- Committee Member, Bernard Witkin Memorial Award, 2006, 2007, 2008
- California Judges Association (member, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 2005)
- San Bernardino County Bar Association (honorary member) 1991 to date
- Riverside County Bar Association (honorary member) 1991 to date
- 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, 1969
- Richard M. Heyden Memorial Scholarship, Whittier College, 1969
- Outstanding Hispanic Alumni Award, Whittier College, 1987
- 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 Trial Judge of the Year, 1990
- Loyola University School of Law (now Loyola Law School), Outstanding Hispanic Alumni Award, 1991
- James H. Krieger Meritorious Service Award for Outstanding Community Service, Riverside County Bar Association, 1999
- Inland Empire Hispanic Image Award Recipient, "Public Service Person of the Year," 2002
- Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Ken Calvert, Certificates of Recognition from State Senator Nell Soto and Assemblyman John Longville, upon receipt of Public Service Person of the Year Award, Inland Empire Hispanic Image Awards, Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, 2002
Teaching and Educational Activities
- Continuing panelist - Riverside County Office of Education, Superintendents' Legal Seminar, 1992-2005. Guest speaker and seminar participant.
- Orange County Mock Trial Judge - 1984 to 1995
- 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, Red Mass Catholic Lawyers - Orange County, 1987
- Charter member, co-founder and co-chairman - Efren Herrera Scholarship Foundation, 1987-1996
- Volunteer, Adopt-a-Class Program, 1988-1997
- Commencement speaker, San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy graduation class, 1991-1993
- Charter member, founder, Red Mass Catholic Lawyers - Inland Empire, 1992
- Volunteer cook for the homeless - Southwest Community Center, Santa Ana, 1993 to 2001
- Member, Judicial Council of California, Executive Legislative Action Network Chair
- Member, Task Force Subcommittee on Appellate Courts Courthouse Construction Guidelines, 1999 - present
- Chair, Appellate Court Facilities Guidelines Working Group, 1999-2001
- Chair, Author, Appellate Court Facilities Guidelines, 2001
- Chair, High School Outreach Program, San Bernardino, Riverside and Inyo Counties, 2001-Present
- Chair, Appellate Facilities Modifications Working Group, 2005
- Guest Lecturer, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, Appellate Practice & Program, 2005 to date
- Member, Design & Construction Team, 4th Appellate District, Division 3, Orange County, 2005-2010
- Presiding Justice, Moot Court, Pepperdine University - School of Law
- Coach, Little League, soccer, National Junior Basketball, Pop Warner Football and Bobettes Baseball, 1968-1996
