Warren grad named superior court judge in Arizona

DOWNEY - Warren High School graduate Jason Holmberg was appointed a superior court judge by Arizona governor Jan Brewer last month. Holmberg was appointed to the Pinal County Superior Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Janna L. Vanderpool.

Holmberg has worked for the Pinal County Attorney's Office since 2009. He currently serves as bureau chief for the Special Victims Unit, a role in which he handles cases involving sex crimes and child and elder abuse.

"Jason is a welcome addition to the Pinal County Superior Court," Brewer said in a statement. "Not only has he emerged as a well-respected prosecutor, he has done so with highly-sensitive and complex criminal cases. His thoroughness - coupled with a strong belief in a judge's duty to strictly interpret and apply laws as written - will be a valuable asset to the bench and to the citizens of Pinal County."

Prior to joining the Pinal County Attorney's Office, Holmberg served as assistant bureau chief for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office from 2004-09. During law school, he worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada; Los Angeles District Attorney's Office; and Hawthorne City Attorney's Office.

He works closely with cold case detectives to present AZ POST-certified lectures on prosecuting cold case sexual assaults, lectures on sex crimes to police academy cadets, and co-developed the Pinal County Sheriff's Office Detective School.

Holmberg has garnered recognition for his legal work. He was a nominee for the David R. White Excellence in Victim Advocacy Award (2012), and received a commendation from the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office in 2003.

After Warren High, Holmberg earned his undergraduate degree in Communications from USC (2001) and graduated from the UCLA School of Law in 2004.

He has been licensed to practice law in Arizona since 2004.