Douglas E. Swager

Justice Swager was born in Richmond, California on February 27, 1945. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1966. He then attended the University of California Hastings College of Law, graduating in 1969.

After serving as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County he became an associate and then partner in the law firm of Watson and Hoffe. In 1981 he became a partner in the law firm of Whiting, Rubenstein and Swager.

He was appointed to the Bay Municipal Court in Contra Costa County on October 16, 1985 by Governor Deukmejian who elevated him to the Contra Costa Superior Court on November 5, 1987 where he served as Presiding Judge in 1993 and 1994. On September 29, 1995 he was appointed by Governor Wilson to the Court of Appeal, Division One and was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments on October 24, 1995.

He is a member of the California Judges’ Association, the Italian American Bar Association and served as consultant for the California Judges Benchguide and was a member of the State Trial Court Budget Commission and its Executive Committee. He is a former member of Contra Costa County Bar Association and Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.

Justice Swager is a member of the Board of Managers of the West Contra Costa County YMCA (Chief Volunteer Officer 1991-1992), recipient of the YMCA’s Volunteer of the Year Award, its Humanitarian of the Year Award and the YMCA of the USA West Field Committee Distinguished Service Award. He has also served on the boards of various community service organizations.

Married to Judith Bretz Swager in 1969 with three children, he enjoys photography, hiking, fishing and Italian.

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