San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Office 7
I was born in 1965 at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana and grew up in Chino. Like my grandfather, aunts, uncles, and cousins I attended Chino schools and graduated from Don Lugo in 1983. After high school, I attended Cal Poly Pomona and played one season on the junior varsity baseball team. During my years at Cal Poly, I studied history and volunteered as a baseball coach at Chino National Little League and at Don Lugo High School.
In 1988, I graduated with a B.A. in history and continued my studies at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. I graduated in 1991 and was admitted to the bar the following year. As a young attorney, I volunteered at Legal Aid Society of the San Gabriel Valley helping people facing eviction. In 1994, I enlisted in the United States Army Reserve and served 8 years reaching the rank of sergeant when I received my Honorable Discharge in 2001.
From 1995 to 2000, I worked in private practice which included personal injury, plaintiff and defense, family law, and criminal defense. At this time, I continued to coach little league baseball and I taught paralegal studies at LA’s Southwest Junior College.
In 2000, I became a Deputy Public Defender for the County of San Bernardino and I have been there since. During my career, I have handled 1,000s of cases and have completed numerous trials. As a public defender, I learned how to effectively speak to my client and their families as I assisted them through the criminal justice system. I also learned how to work, respect, and admire court staff, sheriff’s deputies, police officers, district attorneys, and judges. Now, I would like to continue serving this community as a superior court judge and I am asking for your support.
Mario Martinez Jr.