Michael S. Groch Michael S. Groch, 44, was appointed Superior Court Judge of San Diego County California by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Previously chief of the Economic Crimes Division of the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, Groch is the youngest of three sons of area professionals Dr. George S. Groch and attorney Arlene G. Groch of Northfield.

Mr. Groch attended local area schools and was graduated from the George School in Newton Square, Pennsylvania, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian from California Western School of Law. He was awarded “ San Diego County Prosecutor Of The Year “ in 1999 and named one of the “ Top 40 under 40 Lawyers in California” in 2007.

During his 17-year career as a prosecutor he helped advance the use of technology to enhance trial and criminal justice work, and lectured nationally and internationally as a faculty member of the National College of District Attorneys, American Prosecutor’s Research Institute, and the California District Attorney’s Association.

Mr. Groch is also a founder of the Rob Benzon Foundation, which grants funds to help people face urgent medical, financial and other catastrophic crises.

His most recent post in the San Diego Prosecutor’s Office was as chief of the Economic Crimes Division, where he was in charge of the investigation and prosecution of cases against public officials, large corporations and high tech criminal rings through the Consumer Protection, Identity Theft, Environmental Protection, and the Public Assistance and Real Estate Fraud Divisions in his Department.