Cynthia Aaron, Associate Justice
Justice Cynthia Aaron was appointed to the Fourth District Court
of Appeal in January, 2003. She was rated "exceptionally well
qualified" for appointment to the Court of Appeal by the California
State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation. Prior to her
appointment to the Court of Appeal, Justice Aaron served as a United
States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California. She was appointed to that position
in 1994.
Justice Aaron received her law degree, cum laude, from Harvard
Law School in 1984. She received a B.A. in psychology, with
distinction and departmental honors, from Stanford University in
1979, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Justice Aaron began her legal career as a trial attorney at
Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. In 1988, she left Federal
Defenders to form a law firm with a colleague. Justice Aaron left
her law firm in 1994 when she was appointed to the position of
United States Magistrate Judge.
Justice Aaron was appointed to the State - Federal Judicial
Council by Chief Justice George in 2003, and is currently chair of
the Education Subcommittee. The council provides a vehicle for
direct and personal communication between judges of the state and
federal courts in California concerning matters of mutual interest
and concern, such as developing methods to improve the two court
systems, and improving the quality of representation and ethics of
attorneys. In 2004, the Chief Justice appointed Justice Aaron to the
Appellate Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council, on which she
presently serves. The Appellate Advisory Committee is charged with
making recommendations to the Judicial Council for improving the
administration of justice in appellate proceedings.
In 2005, Justice Aaron was the recipient of the AJC Judge Learned
Hand Award, in recognition of her leadership and commitment to
equity, justice and excellence in the application of law.
Justice Aaron has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at both
the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western
School of Law, teaching trial practice.
Justice Aaron was president of the San Diego County Judges
Association from 2001 - 2002, and was a member of the Board of
Directors of that organization from 2000 to 2003.
Justice Aaron is married and has one son in grade school and two
adult stepchildren.
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