David Minier

David Minier (born October 1, 1934) is a retired City Councilman, District Attorney of Santa Barbara County and Madera County, and California judge.

David Minier
City Councilman Santa Maria, California
In office
1961–1964
David Minier
District Attorney Santa Barbara County
In office
1967–1975
David Minier
District Attorney Madera County
In office
1976–1991
David Minier
Superior Court Judge Madera County
In office
1991–2003
David Minier
Born (1934-10-01) October 1, 1934
Ventura, California
NationalityAmerican
EducationPrinceton University
1957
Stanford Law School
1960
National Judicial College
The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
Oxford University
OccupationCity Councilman
District Attorney
Judge
Professor
Allan Hancock College
1961-1966
1975-1976
Fresno City College
1977-1981
1984-2004
Author
Years active1961–present
(formally retired 2003)
Known for1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
Gourgen Yanikian
1976 Chowchilla kidnapping
Minier v. CIA
Notable work
The Ararat Illusion
(2011)
One Nation Under Obama’s... A Descent into Tyranny
(2012)
Rafiki
(2015)
Spouse(s)Wananda (Rickie) Minier
ChildrenApril
John
Greg Minier
Brett Minier

With a Law Career spanning nearly 60 years, David Minier has Defended, Prosecuted, and Presided over law cases in over half the counties in California and currently is a part time Judge in Madera County.

Early life and Education

Minier was born on October 1, 1934 in Ventura, California. He graduated Princeton University with a B.A. in 1957 and graduated Stanford Law School in 1960. He has also studied at the National Judicial College, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, and Oxford University.

Personal life

David Minier has traveled to over 100 countries around the World. He has climbed Mount Fuji and Mount Kilimanjaro and has competed in Police athletic events internationally.

Career

Minier was a city councilman in Santa Maria from 1964 to 1966. Starting in 1967, Minier served as district attorney in Santa Barbara County, California, and went on to serve as DA of Madera County from 1976–1991.[1] He was Judge of the Superior Court of Madera County from 1991 to 2003.

During his career, Minier was prosecutor in over 300 jury trials. He was DA in Santa Barbara County during the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, and the trial of Gourgen Yanikian in 1972, for the assassination of two Turkish consular officials. Minier blocked evidence of the Armenian Genocide from the court, fearing that it would lead to jury nullification. He later regretted this decision.[2]

He also prosecuted about 900 rioters during the 1970 riots in Isla Vista.[3][4] In Madera County he prosecuted the defendants of the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping.[5] In 1994 Minier sued the CIA for withholding information on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.[6][7]

He served as military attorney for the California State Military Reserve from 1983–2004, retired as Colonel.[8] He was awarded the U.S. Army Commendation Medal and Order of California for his military service.

He taught criminal law classes at Allan Hancock College from 1961-1966 and 1975-1976, and at Fresno City College from 1977-1981 and 1984-2004.

Although formally retired, Minier continues to serve as an assigned judge in central California. He is also the author of three novels, The Ararat Illusion (2011), “One Nation Under Obama’s...A Descent into Tyranny” (2012) and Rafiki (2015).

References
  1. Brantingham, Barney. "The DA Who Loved Headlines." The Santa Barbara Independent, February 23, 2012.
  2. "Armenian genocide: How Valley prosecutor missed his chance to be ‘immortal symbol of justice." The Fresno Bee, January 26, 2018.
  3. Griffith, Winthrop. "The Isla Vista War—Campus Violence In a Class By Itself." The New York Times, August 30, 1970.
  4. Sharp, Kathleen. "The Big-Game Hunter's Big Gamble." The Los Angeles Times, July 29, 2001.
  5. Fagan, Kevin. "Chowchilla kidnappers' unlikely allies for parole." SFGate, February 24, 2011.
  6. "Minier v. Central Intelligence Agency." Findlaw, July 8, 1996.
  7. "Minier vs. CIA". C-SPAN, May 13, 1996.
  8. Terry, Shannon. "Military Appeals Panel hears first oral arguments." Grizzly vol. 8 no. 5, June 2013.
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