Lawyer Who Once Practiced in San Leandro Appointed Federal Judge By Obama

Bay City News --  A Sacramento County Superior Court judge who once practiced law in San Leandro and served for a time as an Alameda County prosecutor was nominated by President Obama to a federal judgeship on Monday.

Troy Nunley, 48, was named to a seat on the U.S. District Court in Sacramento. His nomination must be approved by the U.S Senate.

Nunley has been a Superior Court judge since 2002 and was appointed to that post by former Gov. Gray Davis. 

His nomination to the federal court was recommended by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, who said in a statement, "I believe Judge Nunley will serve with great distinction on the District Court."

Nunley grew up in Hunters Point in San Francisco, Feinstein said.

After graduating from high school at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory School, he earned his college degree from Saint Mary's College in Moraga and his law degree from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. 

Nunley served as an Alameda County deputy district attorney for four years and then worked as a lawyer in private practice in San Leandro for two years.

In 1996, he became a Sacramento County deputy district attorney, and from 1999 to 2002, he worked for the criminal division of the state attorney general's office, defending prosecutors in appeals of criminal cases.

Feinstein said she hopes the Senate will act speedily on Nunley's nomination because the federal court in Sacramento is the busiest in the nation, with a caseload that is more than twice as large as the national average. 

"It is especially important the Senate move quickly to consider Judge Nunley's nomination," Feinstein said.

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