Three join San Bernardino court as judicial officers

San Bernardino Superior Court announced the selection of three new judicial officers on Dec. 22. Malalai Farooqi, Ronda Middleton and Jazmine Torres will join the court as commissioners after being selected by vote of the county's judges. Commissioners are given a courtroom and handle cases much like judges. They have slightly less powers, and serve at the judges' discretion. Farooqi comes from the criminal defense firm of Scafiddi Farooqi Gardner, where she was the managing partner. She was an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Michael Holmes, and graduated from the University of La Verne College of Law. Farooqi was the Chief Executive Editor for the University of La Verne Law Review and organized an International Law Symposium law and state building in Afghanistan. She fills the vacancy created by Commissioner Ronald Gilbert's retirement. Middleton owned her own family law firm. She previously was a partner at Sheasby, Cho & Middleton, L.L.P. and an associate at the Law Offices of Tina Schuchman. Middleton received her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law. Middleton has served on the board of Family Assessment Counseling & Education Service and has guest lectured for Yorba Linda Community Center. She fills the vacancy created by Dina Amani, a commissioner sworn in as judge in June. SB family law judge Dina Amani sworn inSan Bernardino Superior Judge Dina Amani took her oath of judicial office April 11, accompanied by 17 family members and 18 judges. Amani spent six years as a San Bernardino commissioner before being elevated to the bench by Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 17. She owned Farhat Law Firm, fromInland Empire Law WeeklyAidan McGloin Torres was a senior attorney at the Orange County Public Defender's Office. She previously practiced civil litigation at Berger Kahn and Dunbar & Associates. She graduated from Whittier Law School. Her position is funded by Proposition 36. “We appreciate the addition of these three Commissioners to our bench and look forward to the valuable perspective they will bring to the court,” said Presiding Judge Lisa Rogan in a press release. “The court is pleased to welcome Commissioners Farqooi, Middleton, and Torres to the team. We look forward to their contributions and to working collaboratively to serve our community,” said Court Executive Officer Anabel Z. Romero.