NEWS RELEASE Superior Court of COUNTY OF 400 McAllister Street, Room 205 San Francisco, CA 94102-4512 T. MICHAEL YUEN Phone: 415-551-5737 COURT EXECUTIVE OFFICER FAX: 415-551-5701

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RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2012 PRESIDING JUDGE KATHERINE FEINSTEIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SF BENCH

SAN FRANCISCO -- After 12½ years on the San Francisco bench, Presiding Judge

Katherine Feinstein today announced that she is retiring effective February 1, 2013.

“I will miss many of my judicial and staff colleagues, but as I near the end of my 2-year

term as Presiding Judge, now is a good time for a transition,” Judge Feinstein, 55, said. “I have

no specific plans. However, I look forward to serving the public, as I have throughout my legal

career, but in a new and different capacity.”

News of Judge Feinstein’s retirement from the 52-member San Francisco bench will be

keenly felt inside and outside the Court.

“Judge Feinstein's departure from the Court is a significant loss,” said Presiding Judge-

Elect Cynthia Ming-mei Lee, whose 2-year term begins January 1, 2013. “I will miss her

courageous leadership and friendship. She led our Court during financially turbulent times and did

so with unswerving courage, dignity and dedication. Her decision-making was based on what was

best for the Court in the future. Throughout her term as Presiding Judge, she was mindful of our

mission to provide access to the Court for all San Franciscans.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Lee Smalley Edmon added, “California is losing

a remarkable jurist. She is truly an exceptional leader. Judge Feinstein’s creativity, work ethic and

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positive outlook make her a joy to work with. Judge Feinstein’s influence extended well beyond her own Court. While ably dealing with the many challenges of leading the San Francisco Superior

Court, she also found time to devote her energy to addressing statewide issues.”

San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr said, “No one is sadder to see her retire than I am.

She has always made me better than I am. When I was a street cop and she was an assistant district attorney, she helped me to be better prepared to testify. As Chief of Police, she has always been there at every turn to make the City a better safer place through her caring for the less fortunate who can’t care for themselves. She is just the most gracious of ladies and The City of San Francisco will miss her.”

Jack Jacqua, the founder of the Omega Boys Club who has worked closely with Judge

Feinstein on juvenile delinquency issues for many years, said Judge Feinstein is “the most honest and conscientious person I know in this line of work.” He added, “There is always a tone of realness in her decision-making, regardless of how popular those decisions may be. In my decade of experience working alongside Judge Feinstein in the community, her words, and most importantly her actions, are clear, direct and bold.”

Mr. Jacqua concluded, “This Judge’s heart is based in the soul of all people, classes and cultures of San Francisco. As we collectively continue to solve many of our societal ills, this woman of conscience will truly be missed on the Superior Court Bench.”

Gov. appointed Judge Feinstein to the San Francisco Bench in June 2000.

During her more than 12 years on the San Francisco bench, Judge Feinstein served as Presiding

Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge, Supervising Judge of the Unified Family Court and Chair of the

Court’s Executive and Personnel Committees. She also served as a trial Judge in the Civil and

Criminal Divisions.

In Unified Family Court, Judge Feinstein presided over juvenile dependency, delinquency and family law cases, as well as the Youth Family Violence Court. In 2001, Judge Feinstein and

Mr. Jacqua co-founded the SF SQUIRES program, which pairs adjudicated delinquents with

-MORE- KAF/SFSC 3-3-3-3 mentor inmates serving life sentences at San Quentin State Prison. This led Judge Feinstein to spend many Saturdays behind the bars of San Quentin working with troubled youth and their inmate mentors, an experience that Judge Feinstein credits with making her a more compassionate and effective judge.

Judge Feinstein has emerged as an influential and well-respected statewide Judicial Branch leader, serving as a fierce advocate for the trial courts during the state budget battles of the past two years. She previously served as a California Supreme Court appointee to the Commission on

Judicial Performance. The Chief Justice also appointed her to serve on the Supreme Court’s

Statewide Domestic Violence Task Force.

Prior to her judicial service, Judge Feinstein launched her career in public service in

San Francisco with the Office of the District Attorney, where she served as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting adult and juvenile misdemeanor and felony cases. Before joining the Office of the City Attorney in 1998, where she headed the Family & Children’s Services Team, she spent six years representing children in child abuse and neglect cases and contested custody disputes.

She also served as the Director of the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Council and as a member of the

San Francisco Police Commission.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Judge Feinstein earned her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

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