Judge Who Presided Over Fatal Youth Stabbing Case Nominated to Federal Bench

Cynthia Bashant, a judge who presided over the heartbreaking case of a preteen, developmentally disabled East County boy who fatally stabbed his 12-year-old friend, was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama Thursday.

Bashant has been a San Diego Superior Court judge since 2000, and was presiding judge for the juvenile dependency and delinquency courts for four years.

She was a federal prosecutor for a dozen years before becoming a judge.

Bashant, who obtained her law degree in 1986 from the University of California Hastings College of the Law, found the boy incompetent to stand trial in June 2012 because he couldn't understand the court proceedings or assist his attorney.

He had been charged with murder and assault in connection with the Jan. 16, 2012, death of Ryan Carter.

Bashant ordered him into a residential treatment center.

The judge also presided over the weeklong preliminary hearing for Esteban Nunez and two other young men who were later convicted of fatally stabbing a Mesa College student during a fight at San Diego State University. Nunez' father, Fabian Nunez, was the Assembly speaker at the time.

She also oversaw major molest, rape and medical marijuana cases while on the San Diego bench.

Bashant's ascension to the post is contingent on U.S. Senate approval.