Judge Brian J. Back ’77 was elected by Ventura Superior Court judges as assistant presiding judge for 2011 and 2012. Back was appointed to the Ventura Municipal Court by Gov. Pete Wilson in 1997 and elevated to the Superior Court in 1998 by court unification. He has been a judge for 12 years. Back is assigned to the criminal division. Previous assignments have included juvenile delinquency, family law, guardianship, domestic violence and adult mental health courts. Back has presided over specialized juvenile drug and mental health calendars and served on numerous professional and community boards and commissions. In 2003 he was named Judge of the Year by the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association. Before his appointment to the bench, Back was an attorney with Arnold, Back, Mathews, Wojkowski & Zirbel from 1990 to 1997; Arnold & Back from 1989 to 1990; and Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton from 1977 to 1989. Back earned a bachelor’s degree at Claremont Men’s College and a law degree from Santa Clara University Law. He also has a master’s degree in government from the Claremont Graduate School.