Charles Poochigian Sworn in as Justice of California Court of Appeal, Fifth District

Staff Report

Justice Poochigian, center, being sworn into office by Chief Justice Ronald George, with Poochigian's wife, Fresno County Supervisor Debbie Poochigian witnessing the event. — Justice Poochigian, center, being sworn into office by Chief Justice Ronald George, with Poochigian’s wife, Fresno County Supervisor Debbie Poochigian witnessing the event.

Former California State Senator Charles Suren Poochigian was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to serve as an Associate Justice for the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District. The Fifth Appellate District Court is located in Fresno, California, with a jurisdiction that includes the following nine central California Counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne.

On Thursday, September 24, 2009, the Commission on Judicial Appointments convened in San Francisco to consider the appointment.

With over 120 Poochigian family members and friends in attendance, the two and one-half hour hearing concluded with the announcement of a unanimous vote in favor of confirmation. Chief Justice George administered the oath of office to Justice Poochigian. Following six years of service on the senior staffs of Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson and 12 years of distinguished service as a legislative leader in the California State Assembly and Senate, Poochigian returned to Fresno to practice law with the Dowling, Aaron & Keeler firm. He immediately began his duties as the newest member of California’s appellate judiciary.