Senator Tom Umberg Named Chair of California State Senate Judiciary Committee

SACRAMENTO — Today, Senator Tom Umberg (D - Orange County) was named Chair of the California State Senate Judiciary Committee by State Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins. Senator Umberg has served as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee since 2018. Prior to being appointed as Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Umberg chaired the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

“I am honored by Senate President Pro Tem Atkins’ confidence in appointing me Judiciary Chair,” said Senator Umberg. “The pandemic and the increasing costs of litigation have made access to justice more challenging. In leading the Judiciary Committee, I plan to work diligently with the committee members to consider thoughtful policy and meet the pandemic crisis head-on. I will pursue California’s interests with the same determination towards justice I have demonstrated throughout my career.”

Senator Umberg, a graduate of UCLA and UC Hastings College of the Law, co-founded and built a successful law firm in Orange County that has been recognized as one of California’s preeminent boutique law firms by Best Lawyers and The Daily Journal.

As a federal criminal prosecutor, Senator Umberg successfully prosecuted numerous white collar, civil rights, and gang cases.  In the course of his career, he has tried over 100 cases to verdict or judgment.

Senator Umberg is a retired Army colonel who served three overseas tours as a military prosecutor - to include war crimes prosecutions - and was recalled to active duty to lead the US military’s effort in Afghanistan to combat corruption within the Afghan Police and Army. For his service in Afghanistan, he was awarded the Bronze Star.

During the Clinton Administration, Senator Umberg was appointed Deputy Drug Czar, and was responsible for foreign drug interdiction, counter-drug intelligence, and international drug policy.  

As a Justice for Veterans and National Association of Drug Court Professionals board member, a long time passion of Senator Umberg’s is providing safe alternatives to incarceration through the collaborative courts for drug offenders, those with mental health issues, veterans, etc.

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Senator Thomas Umberg represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Midway City, Orange, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, and Westminster. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former federal prosecutor. He and his wife, Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.