Superior Court elects White as presiding judge

The judges of the Ventura Superior Court have elected Judge Colleen Toy White as presiding judge and Judge Kevin McGee as assistant presiding judge for 2007 and 2008. The election was held during the judges' weekly meeting on Aug. 23. The new term for both begins Jan. 1, 2007.

White has served as a Ventura Superior Court judge for 12 years. She has been the Superior Court assistant presiding judge since January 2005 and is a former supervising judge of the Family Law Division. She was elected to the Superior Court bench in June 1994.

She has served on numerous state and local committees and task forces and is the recipient of many awards for outstanding public service, leadership and contributions to the legal system.

Prior to being elected to the bench, White was a member of the Ventura County district attorney's office for 18 years, 10 of which in the position of chief assistant district attorney, that agency's secondhighest position. She is a graduate of the Ventura College of Law.

McGee was elected to the Ventura Superior Court bench in November 1998. He is currently the supervising judge of the Criminal Division. Past assignments have included family law, civil, criminal trials and criminal arraignments.

McGee graduated with honors from the Loyola Law School in 1979 (cum laude) and Loyola Marymount University in 1976 (magna cum laude). He has served on many professional and community organizations.

Prior to his election to the bench, McGee was a member of the Ventura County district attorney's office for 16 years. He served as chief assistant district attorney from 1994-98. Prior to joining the district attorney's office, he was in private practice for 2 and a half years, working in the insurance defense field.

The presiding judge, with the assistance of the court executive officer, is responsible for leading the court, establishing policies and allocating resources in a manner that promotes equal access to justice, maximizes the use of judicial and other resources, increases efficiency in court operations and enhances service to the public.

The assistant presiding judge performs duties as assigned by the presiding judge, and in the absence of the presiding judge, exercises the powers of the presiding judge.