Before and after graduating from law school she spent seven years as an elementary school teacher. She champions education "so we can all be critical thinkers and see things for ourselves. When kids grow up and don't understand their government ... cannot read or write at grade level ... that is one of the mortal sins."

After repeated failures to discipline disgraced attorney Tom Girardi, the state bar's Board of Trustees chair and executive director say the agency is committed to ongoing and rigorous self-examination and improvement.

Senate Bill 662, introduced by Susan Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, would expand the use of electronic recording beyond the limited civil, infraction and misdemeanor matters where it’s currently allowed when certified reporters are not available. The legislation would also give court reporters the right of first refusal to transcribe those recordings.

Cisneros has been on the bench a little over a year. Although he does not represent defendants anymore, he feels that his mission is the same. "My job is to make sure that justice is handed out equally, whether or not you have money. And I saw that in my job as a public defender," Cisneros said.