Rivco's Gary Windom Receives 'Distinguished Service Award'
Riverside County’s Public Defender has been tabbed with a major award by the Judicial Council of California.
Gary Windom, who has served as the County’s Public Defender since 1999, was one of two selections statewide for the Judicial Council’s “Bernard E. Witkin Amicus Curiae Award.”
The award, shared with San Mateo County District Attorney James Fox recognizes “individuals other than members of the judiciary for their outstanding contributions to the courts of California.”
Now in their 15th year, the awards will be presented later this year by California Chief
Justice Ronald M. George and Administrative Director of the Courts William C. Vickrey.
The Judicial Council of California is the governing body for California’s courts. Following is a statement released by the Judicial Council:
“Windom became the chief public defender for Riverside County in 1999 after a long career as a
senior deputy public defender in Ventura County. He is credited with revitalizing and modernizing
the Riverside public defender's office by providing management and staff training and holding
cooperative meetings with other stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
“Mr. Windom has actively supported increased diversity in the judiciary at the local and
statewide level. He urged the Governor to increase the diversity on the bench and to appoint a
judicial appointments secretary who made this a priority.
“Mr. Windom was a key participant in the discussions that led to Chief Justice George's
decision to assign dozens of judges around the state to the Superior Court of Riverside County to
help that court address its backlog and increasing caseload. He has actively participated in local,
regional, and statewide efforts to modernize and integrate all of the judicial branch's computer
networks.”
Among many firsts in his career, Mr. Windom was a founding member of the California Council
of Chief Public Defenders, a statewide coalition of chief public defenders who meet regularly to
discuss management issues facing justice system stakeholders. He is the first African-American
public defender in Riverside County and was the first African-American president of the California
Public Defenders Association (CPDA) in 1999. He led the CPDA to support state allocations for new
judgeships and has personally lobbied for enhanced retirement benefits for judges.
Mr. Windom has served as chair of the California Children's Justice Act Task Force, a member
of the Judicial Council's Proposition 36 Advisory Committee, a member of the Riverside Leadership
Institute, and past chair of the state's Sexual Assault Commission.