Judge Tomar Mason to Retire After 21 Years on the San Francisco ...

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 7, 2011
JUDGE TOMAR MASON TO RETIRE AFTER <strong>21</strong>
YEARS ON THE SAN FRANCISCO BENCH
SAN FRANCISCO -- <strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Tomar</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> will retire on December 31, 2011
after serving on the bench of the San Francisco Superior and Municipal Courts for <strong>21</strong>
years, Presiding <strong>Judge</strong> Katherine Feinstein announced <strong>to</strong>day.
“It has been an honor <strong>to</strong> serve the citizens of the City & County of
San Francisco for more than two decades,” <strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> said. “I have a deep respect
and admiration for my fellow bench officers, Court staff and members of the bar who
have enriched my experience in San Francisco. Dispensing justice has been a distinct
privilege for me throughout my tenure as a Municipal and Superior Court <strong>Judge</strong>. I
will truly miss our Court family, my fascinating cases, our intelligent San Francisco
jurors and the absolutely phenomenal lawyers.”
<strong>Judge</strong> Feinstein added, “<strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> has offered much of her time and
enthusiastic dedication beyond her formal bench duties <strong>to</strong> serve the citizens of the
City & County of San Francisco. We are all extremely grateful <strong>to</strong> <strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> for her
many years of dedicated public service and contributions <strong>to</strong> our Court.”
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SFSC/JUDGE MASON
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<strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> was a member of the Municipal Court, where she served from
1990 – 1998, including a term as Presiding <strong>Judge</strong>. She served as a Superior Court
<strong>Judge</strong> since consolidation in 1998.
Some of her notable special assignments have included development of:
• Manda<strong>to</strong>ry e-filing and e-service for asbes<strong>to</strong>s cases;
• Drug Court in San Francisco;
• Expanded pre-trial services; and the
• Bail commissioner project.
<strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> also served as chair of the Asbes<strong>to</strong>s Committee and managed
the Court’s justice grants.
Her contributions include participation in many national efforts, including
service as the Vice President and Trustee of the Pretrial Services Resources Center,
and as a member of the Youth Law Center’s Board of Direc<strong>to</strong>rs. She is a founding
member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and also served on
several committees of the American Correctional Association. She served twice as
President of the Association for Criminal Justice Research of California, between 2003
– 2005 and 1998-1999. Given her expertise in Drug Court development, she was a
founding member and President of the California Association of Drug Court
Professionals.
Prior <strong>to</strong> her judicial career, <strong>Judge</strong> <strong>Mason</strong> served as a deputy at<strong>to</strong>rney general.
She also served as a deputy district at<strong>to</strong>rney and a deputy county counsel in Santa
Clara County. In Fresno County, she served as a deputy district at<strong>to</strong>rney.
A graduate of Michigan State University, she earned her J.D. from UCLA
School of Law.
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