Governor Appoints Democrat to Riverside County Judgeship

A seasoned civil and criminal attorney was appointed to a Riverside County judgeship, the governor's office announced Friday.

Assistant Public Defender Dean Benjamini, 47, of Bermuda Dunes was chosen by Gov. Jerry Brown to fill a Superior Court seat that became vacant when a court commissioner position was converted to a judicial post last January.

Benjamini has worked in an administrative capacity for the Office of Public Defender since earlier this year. Prior to that, he was a managing partner at Benjamini & Benjamini for eight years. From 1994 to 2005, he worked as a deputy public defender, according to the governor's office.

Benjamini, a Democrat, will be paid $181,292 a year.

The court could not immediately confirm to which courthouse he will be assigned.