“Commissioner O’Mara’s many years of hard work and dedicated service have been invaluable"

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - Yolo Superior Court announced today that Commissioner J. Kent O’Mara will be retiring as of December 19, 2020. Over the last thirteen years, Commissioner O’Mara has served the court in multiple positions including Referee and Court Commissioner. He graduated from the University of San Fernando Valley College of Law and after graduation, worked for a law firm doing civil litigation in state and federal courts. After moving to Northern California in 1983, he had his own law firm in El Dorado County for 25 years before he was hired by Yolo Superior Court. In June of 2009 he was appointed to the position of Referee. In June 2015 he was elevated to the position of Commissioner. He handled a variety of high-volume calendars including traffic, unlawful detainer and small claims as well as criminal arraignments. Additionally, O’Mara played an active role in the civil settlement program. Commissioner O’Mara plans to vacation more often in Mexico as well as spend more time with his granddaughter.

CEO Shawn C. Landry said “Commissioner O’Mara’s many years of hard work and dedicated service have been invaluable to the court and the community. We wish him the best in his retirement.”

Upon Commissioner O’Mara’s retirement and upon Order of Presiding Judge Samuel T. McAdam, Catherine Hohenwarter has been selected to fill the position and will preside over Traffic, Small Claims and Unlawful Detainer matters.

Ms. Hohenwarter brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in both the public and private sector. She graduated from Middlebury College in 1985 and received a Juris Doctorate from University of Idaho School of Law in 1990. Beginning her Yolo Superior Court career in 2007, she started as a Legal Research Attorney. Since then, she has worked in a wide variety of leadership positions in the court including the Family Law Facilitator and Family Court Services Manager before her promotion to Supervising Legal Research Attorney in 2019.

“It was a natural fit for Ms. Hohenwarter to be appointed in this role. Ms. Hohenwarter has proved herself to be extremely qualified to serve as Commissioner. She has handled these high-volume calendars previously in a temporary role and can easily jump right in without delay. As I said before, she is a star in our legal community. It will be an easy transition because of her wide range of legal experience and even-keeled demeanor”, said Presiding Judge McAdam.

Ms. Hohenwarter will assume her post on December 21st