With the start of the new year, San Diego Superior Court has a new presiding judge, a technology supporter who steps in as the court moves toward providing digital access to criminal cases — a project years in the making. Presiding Judge Michael Groch also takes the helm of California’s second-l argest trial court system as it continues working through how best to implement Proposition 36, a year-old measure that toughened penalties for petty theft and drug possession for repeat offenders. Groch, 59, will lead in the oversight and management of a court system with 154 judicial officers, nearly 1,100 employees and a budget topping $220 million. The term lasts two years. Groch is a fan of both technology and efficiency, and several years ago was the driving force behind taking the process of getting a judicial warrant to the digital realm. That means police officers no longer have to drive to the court, track down an available judge, then head to the business office to file the warrant. “Wherever I see inefficiency, I know we can do better than that,” he said Monday. “I’ve always been of that mindset that if there’s a better way to do something, let’s do it.” A prosecutor for nearly 20 years, Groch said he was one of the co-founders of the District Attorney’s Office’s high-tech task force created more than two decades ago. And as a judge, he has been appointed to consecutive terms on the state’s Judicial Council’s Information and Technology Advisory Committee since 2015. “I’ve always had a technology focus,” Groch told the Union-Tribune. “And I say technology is not the answer for everything, but it’s the answer for a lot of things.” As it happens, his term starts as San Diego Superior Court expects to finally switch to a digital system for criminal cases, which will allow people to access the docket — but not the documents — online, and also view documents digitally at the courthouse. The local court’s civil and family law divisions made the switch long ago. Taking criminal cases to a digital realm is no small feat for a court system that still uses paper files and handwritten forms in triplicate. Groch is “absolutely thrilled” about the move. “It’s so necessary.” Among the challenges for him as presiding judge is continuing to implement how the court handles cases under Proposition 36. The measure was unfunded but has created more felony cases working their way through the courts. It’s also led to more trials on the misdemeanor side, because cases are slower to settle given their future potential consequences for the defendant. “All of this is unfolding in real time, and we are adapting to it as best we can,” he said. Groch graduated summa cum laude from California Western School of Law in 1992. He spent the next several years as a prosecutor until then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him as a San Diego Superior Court judge in 2010. As a judge, he has held assignments in family and civil court and was the supervising judge overseeing criminal cases. He also chaired the court’s Technology and Grand Jury Committees. Aside from that, since 2013, Groch has served on the faculty of the B.E. Witkin Judicial College, which provides education for all new trial court judges in California. His newest job is a bump up from his old one: Groch spent the last two years as the assistant presiding judge, a job that typically leads to winning the top job. The presiding judge and assistant presiding judge are elected by the local bench. Judge Roderick Shelton was elected to serve as assistant presiding judge for the next two years. A news release announcing the start of Groch’s term as presiding judge says “connected” will be his guiding principle. “Connected is more than a theme,” Groch said in the announcement. “It underscores the importance of collaboration, communication, and trust throughout the court.” ...read more read less