Yolo Superior Court officials announced Wednesday the retirement of Commissioner Dennis A. Umanzio, effective Dec. 20.
Umanzio was appointed to the Yolo Superior Court in July 1997 and served as a family support commissioner for Yolo, Sutter and Yuba Counties for 23 years. His involvement in the child support field started in 1991 when, as a deputy district attorney for Sutter County, he prosecuted countless paternity and family support cases.
Umanzio’s outstanding work as a child support commissioner has been recognized throughout the state. He served as a member of the Judicial Council Subcommittee on Family Support and as director of the Board for the California Court Commissioners Association. In addition, he was a pastmember of the California Judicial Education and Research Distance Education Committee.
In his retirement, Umanzio plans on enjoying other aspects of life, including spending more time on his hobbies of chess, soccer, kayaking and sailing.
Court officials thanked Umanzio for his many years of service and wish him the best in his retirement.
“His hard work and dedication coupled with his personability will be missed by all,” Court Executive Officer Shawn C. Landry said.
Upon Umanzio’s retirement announcement, Presiding Judge Samuel T. McAdam appointed Catherine R. Hohenwarter to assume the responsibilities of child support commissioner.
Hohenwarter brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in both the public and private sector. She graduated from Middlebury College in 1985 and received a juris doctorate from University of Idaho School of Law in 1990.
She began her Yolo Superior Court career in 2007, starting as a legal research attorney. Since then, she has worked in a wide variety of leadership positions in the court, including as family law facilitator and family court services manager, before her promotion to supervising legal research attorney in 2019.
“We are fortunate to have the most qualified person already on staff. Ms. Hohenwater is a star in our legal community,” McAdam said. “It will be an easy transition because of her wide range of legal experience. Lawyers and litigants will appreciate her demeanor and judicial temperament.”
The child support commissioner position is currently funded at one day per week. Hohenwarter will assume her post on Dec. 22 and continue her duties as supervising legal research attorney the remainder of the time.