Tom Hallinan, the city attorney for the city of Ceres, has been appointed to the California Law Revision Commission by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The commission is an independent state agency which assists the Legislature and governor by examining state law and recommending any reforms. It consists of a state senator, a member of the state Assembly, the state Legislative Counsel, and seven members appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

"I am very grateful to Gov. Brown for appointing me to his administration," said Hallinan, a native of Oakdale now living in Ceres. "I look forward to serving at the state level on this important commission which impacts all three branches of state government."

Hallinan is a partner with Churchwell White LLP and has served as city/special district attorney for a dozen of local governmental agencies over the past 22 years. Active in the Central Valley City Attorney Association, Hallinan is the current Valley representative to the League of California Cities Legal Advocacy Committee.

He previously served as a law clerk for the Judicial Council of California, and in the misdemeanor division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

A Yosemite Community College District board trustee since 1996, Hallinan was also appointed by former Gov. Gray Davis to the 38th District Agricultural Association where he served from 2000 to 2004.

Hallinan lives in Ceres with wife Anna Marie, the chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Parks Commission, and their son Logan, a sophomore at Central Valley High School.