Recalled U.S. Magistrate Judge Victor E. Bianchini

Recalled Magistrate Judge Bianchini was first appointed to the position of U.S. Magistrate by the Southern District of California in 1974 and served until 1982.  He vacated that position to accept a California state court position as a municipal court judge.  He was elevated to the position of Superior Court judge in 1998.  After retiring in 2002, he was recalled part-time to the Western District of New York while engaged in a private mediation and arbitration practice.  He served the Western District until 2006, at which time he was appointed to a full-time position serving both the Western District and Northern District of New York.

Judge Bianchini attended and graduated from San Diego State University in 1960 and the University of San Diego School of Law in 1963.

Following graduation from San Diego State, Judge Bianchini was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and released from active duty to attend law school.  Judge Bianchini served as the confidential law clerk to Chief Judge James M. Carter of the Southern District of California from 1963 to 1964.  In August of 1964, Judge Bianchini, after having received training as a tank platoon commander, parachutist, and Force Reconnaissance platoon commander during law school, entered active duty with the Marine Corps, and thereafter served as a combat correspondent and photojournalist and combat air crew in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966.  He received the Bronze Star with Combat "V", 3 Air Medals and the Combat Action Ribbon.  He later received the Legion of Merit following service during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  After release from active duty, he continued to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, retiring in 1991 with the rank of Colonel.

Following military service, Judge Bianchini entered private practice and continued until his appointment as a U.S. Magistrate in 1974.  He also served as a U.S. Commissioner from 1968 to 1969.  During his judicial service, he was honored as "Judge of the Year" by the San Diego Trial Lawyers, received the Foothills Bar Association Public Service Award, received Family Law Judge honors from the El Cajon Superior Court, and was the recipient of numerous additional awards and recognitions.  Prior to his retirement from the Superior Court he served, during a leave of absence, as a Senior Fulbright Scholar in the Sub-Saharan African country of Eritrea.

Judge Bianchini is President of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Historical Society, Vice Chair of the Vietnam Veteran's Village of San Diego, a director with the Flying Leathernecks Historical Foundation and a life member of the USMC Combat Correspondents Association.  He has also served in numerous adjunct professor positions, specializing in the field of evidence and served on the Faculty Council of the National Judicial College.  He is currently the volunteer debate coach for the Mt. Carmel High School Debate Team.