Associate Justice Eugene M. Premo

Associated Justice Eugene M. PremoAssociate Justice Eugene M. Premo was born in San Jose, California, in 1936. He attended local schools and graduated with honors from Santa Clara University in 1957, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper. He served two years as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps and was honorably discharged in 1959.

Justice Premo attended and graduated with honors from Santa Clara University, School of Law in 1962. Prior to graduation, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review, was elected to Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society of Jesuit universities, and was named Outstanding Law Graduate at commencement. He authored a Law Review Comment and graduated in the top 5% of his class. He subsequently has received the School of Law's Owens Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Justice Premo served one year as a research attorney in the Court of Appeal, First District. There upon he entered private practice in Santa Clara and subsequently San Jose. He served as a president of the Barristers Club, member of Kiwanis Club, and member of the Athletic Advisory Board of Santa Clara University. He also served as board member and vice-president of Barristers Club of California (now California Young Lawyers Association).

In September 1969, Justice Premo was appointed to the Municipal Court in Santa Clara Judicial District, where he served five years. In December 1974, he was elevated to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, where he served until October 1988.

During his judicial service, Justice Premo was president of the Municipal Court Judges Association, supervising judge of the Family Court, supervising judge of the Juvenile Court, law and motion and trial judge in both criminal and civil departments, and served one term as Assistant Presiding Judge and Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.

In October 1988, Justice Premo was appointed by Governor George Deukmejian to a newly created position on the Court of Appeal, Sixth District.

Justice Premo served from 1988 to 1995 as a member of the Commission on Judicial Performance including two years as its chairman. He was a board member and vice president of the California Judges Association for three years. He has served as adjunct professor at Santa Clara University School of Law. He is currently a member of the school's Board of Visitors and the Dean's Leadership Council. He also has taught Continuing Education classes at the Judges' College, University of California CEB programs and served on education panels sponsored by the Rutter Group. Justice Premo is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Foundation of Santa Clara County.

Justice Premo has been married to Georgine Drees Premo since 1959. They have four adult children and nine grandchildren.