Judge Brian John Back: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Brian John Back (Ret.) was a judge for the Ventura County Superior Court in California. He was originally appointed to the Ventura Municipal Court in 1997 by former Governor Pete Wilson, and then subsequently elevated to the Superior Court a year later as a result of court unification. He retired from the bench on April 30, 2018, and his vacancy was filled by the Hon. Anthony J. Sabo.

Back received his bachelor's degree in political science from Claremont Men's College. He graduated with a master's degree in government from Claremont Graduate School. He then went on to earn his J.D. from Santa Clara Law School.

He began his legal career as an associate at the Oxnard law firm of Nordman, Cormany, Hair, and Compton beginning in 1977. Back was named a partner at the firm in 1983 and would serve in that capacity until becoming a partner at Arnold and Back six years later. He also partnered at Arnold, Back, Mathews, Wojkowski, and Zirbel beginning in 1990. He would remain in that capacity until his appointment to the Municipal Court in 1997. While in private practice, Back specialized in civil litigation and business law.

During his twenty-one years on the bench, Back served as a presiding judge and an assistant presiding judge. His assignments included the juvenile delinquency, criminal, family law, guardianship, domestic violence, and mental health courts.

He served on the California Judicial Council, and at the time, was only the third Ventura County judge to do so in the council's 93-year history. He was also a member of the State Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

In 1993, Back was named Judge of the Year by the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association.