The Honorable Pat O’Malley has been selected by his peers to serve as Presiding Judge of Pierce County District Court, beginning in January. The Presiding Judge is elected by the judges of the court every two years. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and Gonzaga University Law School, Judge O’Malley has served on the District Court Bench for eight years. Prior to coming to the bench he served on the Pierce County Council for six years, and was a Port of Tacoma commissioner for 16 years. He has attended the Stanford University Business School Executive Management Program and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. With the planned closure of the Hosmer branch court and consolidation of those functions, as well as the continuing fiscal challenges the court faces, Judge O’Malley assumes this responsibility at a critical time for District Court. Outgoing Presiding Judge Maggie Ross will serve as Assistant Presiding Judge. Judge O’Malley begins his two-year term on Jan. 3, 2011.