Noonan Elected as Bar President

David J. Noonan, a partner at a prominent downtown San Diego law firm who said he wants to improve the image of attorneys, was elected Tuesday as the San Diego County Bar Assn.’s 1993 president.

Noonan will take office in December, succeeding Anthony Battaglia. The 6,500-member bar association has made it a practice the past few years to elect its president about six months beforehand, believing in on-the-job training, Battaglia said.

Noonan, 44, who specializes in business litigation, defeated two other candidates, lawyers Patrick F. O’Connor and Thomas J. Warwick Jr. All three are current bar vice presidents.

“I think we have to take a hard look at making a more focused and continuing effort at getting the message out, improving the image of lawyers--that lawyers are useful, lawyers are worthwhile and productive and can really do a lot of good in society,” Noonan said Tuesday night. “I think we need to do a lot of that. I think we’re getting beaten up to much.”

Noonan also said he planned to concentrate during his term on improving the number and quality of continuing education programs offered by the local bar association. Earlier this year, the State Bar of California ordered lawyers to take continuing education classes.