Thursday, November 1, 2001
Page 3
Davis Appoints Family Law Attorney to Fresno Superior Court
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Gov. Gray Davis yesterday appointed family law attorney Denise Whitehead to the Fresno Superior Court.
Whitehead has been a partner with the Fresno firm of Ophelia & Whitehead since last May.
Before joining Ophelia & Whitehead, she served as a Fresno Superior Court Commissioner from 1992 to 2000, where she heard a variety of cases including family law and criminal proceedings.
As a commissioner, Whitehead helped jumpstart a number of innovative court programs, including the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and the Keep Kids in School-Truancy Prevention Project.
In addition to her experience on the bench, Whitehead was a senior staff attorney for the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno.
She also worked as an associate with Fresno law firm Richert & Patch and as a research attorney for the California Supreme Court.
She is a former member of the Domestic Violence Round Table, Family Court Advisory Committee, Family Law Local Rules Committee, and the Fresno County Women Lawyers.
Whitehead earned her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from California State University, Fresno and her law degree magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco Law School.
She will receive a salary of $133,051.
Copyright 2001, Metropolitan News Company