Board of Supervisors

County selects new head legal counsel after extensive search

Officials select Warren Jensen, a longtime county employee, to succeed the late Jim Lindholm

By Bob Cuddy

Warren R. Jensen will take over in September as the county government’s chief lawyer after his appointment this week by the Board of Supervisors.

Jensen, 61, a longtime county employee, arrived in the County Counsel’s Of fice in 1986 and moved up to chief deputy county counsel in 2006, and then assistant county counsel in February.

Jensen will replace Jim Lindholm, who died in January after decades of handling the county’s legal proceedings.

His four-year term begins Sept. 22.

Interim County CounselWyatt Cash postponed his retirement so he could lead the office after Lindholm died.

Jensen told The Tribune that the county has “all kinds of issues” that need daily attention, among them pension funding, infrastructure, water, planning, the Los Osos’ sewer and other problems.

The county counsel advises the Board of Supervisors and department heads on all aspects of civil law.

County Administrative Officer David Edge said Jensen is well-known and respected in the county and is an easy person to get along with.

Edge said Jensen battled his way through a candidate pool of more than 30 applicants, including some other in-house candidates as well as applicants from other county counsel offices throughout California.

Jensen has advised numerous county departments, including the health agency, auditor, assessor, treasurer-tax collector, human resources, administrative office and others.

He has handled complex litigation and is well versed in all matters of governmental law, according to a news release from Cash.

Jensen has led in statewide matters involving property tax-related issues.

In 1999 and 2001, the County Counsel’s Association awarded him commendations for service in property tax law.

Prior to coming to the County Counsel’s Office, he was a partner with Stokes, Steeves, Jensen and Cissna in Arcata. He grew up in Eureka and attended Humboldt State University for two years.

Jensen earned his juris doctor from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1976 and was admitted to practice with the State Bar of California that same year.

He also is admitted to practice before the U. S. District Court’s Northern and Central districts, and the Ninth Circuit U. S. Court of Appeals.

Jensen earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering in 1969 at Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Berkeley in 1968. From 1969 to 1972 he served in the U. S. Naval Reserve.