Twice reappointed state Public Defender by two different governors, Michael J. Hersek graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in political science and from the University of California’s Hastings College of the Law in 1989. After graduation, he worked as an annual research attorney for the state Supreme Court. In 1991, Hersek became a deputy state public defender and stayed until 1999, when he resumed work for the Supreme Court, this time as central staff attorney overseeing the court’s research on criminal appeals. Hersek has been an adjunct professor at the Golden Gate University School of Law since 2000 and serves on the appellate advisory committee to the California Judicial Council and the selection boards for the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

In 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tapped the registered Democrat to be state public defender and reappointed him in 2008. Governor Brown also reappointed Hersek in March 2012.

Schwarzenegger Reappoints Michael Hersek as State Public Defender (Metropolitan News-Enterprise)

Governor Brown Announces Appointments (Public Defender’s website)