New presiding judge elected

Kim G. Dunning was elected Friday as presiding judge of Orange County Superior Court, and Thomas J. Borris was chosen as assistant presiding judge. Their terms will begin in January.

Dunning, appointed to the bench in 1997 by Gov. Pete Wilson, has been the assistant presiding judge since January 2006. She has been actively involved in efforts to build a new courthouse in Laguna Niguel, and also serves on an advisory committee that promotes the use of technology to improve public access to the courts.

Borris was appointed to the Municipal Court in 1993 by Wilson and elevated to the Superior Court upon court unification in August 1998. He is the supervising judge of the court’s felony panel.

The selections were made in a unanimous vote by the judges and commissioners of Orange County Superior Court.

-- Christine Hanley