Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday announced the appointment of Frank L. Birchak to a judgeship in the San Diego Superior Court, where he will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas Nugent.
Birchak, 42, has served as director of training, recruitment and career development at the San Diego County Public Defender's Office since 2014. He served as a deputy public defender at the San Diego County Alternate Public Defender's Office from 2004 to 2014 and was an adjunct professor and supervising attorney of the Juvenile Defense Clinic at the University of Houston Law Center from 2002 to 2004.
Birchak, a Democrat, was associate director at the Southwest Regional Juvenile Defender Center from 2001 to 2004 and was an associate at Guiberson Law Offices from 1999 to 2001.
He earned a doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center and a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity University.
Birchak will make $189,041 as a Superior Court judge.
