PRESS RELEASE
January 15, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commissioner Howard Bloom Retires
from the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda.
After seven years in the Judicial Branch of GovernmentCourt Commissioner Howard Bloom of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, has announced his retirement, effective February 21, 2002, after seven years of service presiding over cases in traffic, small claims, unlawful detainer and nonjury civil and criminal departments. He was assigned to the Hayward Hall of Justice from January 1995, until April 30, 2001, when he was assigned to the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. Commissioner Bloom is a member of the Traffic subcommittee of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda.
Commissioner Bloom received his Juris Doctor degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1974. In 1971, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Occidental College. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland from 1967-1969.
After law school, Commissioner Bloom worked in private practice in 1975 and 1976, in the law firm of Blum & Blum. In 1976, he became an Assistant Public Defender in the Alameda County Office of the Public Defender, until he accepted a position as a Court Commissioner with the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, (first hired as subordinate judicial officer in the former San Leandro-Hayward Municipal Court in 1995.) Prior to becoming a member of the judicial branch, Commissioner Bloom was Chairperson (1991-1993) of the County Advisory Committee on Drug Programs and the County Advisory Committee on Drug and Alcohol Suppression in Schools. In 1992 – 1993 he served as Chairperson on the County Master Plan Committee for Drug and Alcohol Programs. In 1990, Commissioner Bloom was Chairperson of the County Fish and Game Commission.
In 1980 through 1984, Commissioner Bloom served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Livermore Municipal Court. He participates in programs at the Oakland Museum.
Upon his retirement, Commissioner Bloom is planning to spend more time with his family and pursue his personal interests that include hunting, fishing and diving.
Harry R. Sheppard, Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda stated “the Court appreciates Commissioner Bloom’s service to the public, in the judicial branch of government and wishes him well in his future endeavors.”
The contact for this information release is Barbara J. Fox, Chief Assistant Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, (510) 272-6504.