BIO

By Joseph P. Brannigan

further biographical information

Federal prosecutor Joe Brannigan has filed papers to run for San Diego Superior Court Judge. His name will appear on the March 2, 2004, ballot for Office No.
24.

Joe Brannigan has spent his entire career in public service. He has served as an Army Officer, FBI Agent, Deputy District Attorney, and Assistant US Attorney.

Joe graduated from St. Peter's College in New Jersey in 1972. During college, Joe was a member of the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.), and upon graduation was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry. Joe then attended law school at The University Of San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, graduating in 1975 with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

After graduating from law school, Joe entered on duty with The United States Army, and served as a 1st Lieutenant for two years at Fort Riley, Kansas, as a proud member of the 1st Infantry Division, better known as The Big Red One. Joe served first as a line infantry officer, and later as an Assistant Judge Advocate, representing the Army at misconduct discharge boards.

After completion of military service in 1978, Joe became a Special Agent with The Federal Bureau of Investigation. After training at The FBI Academy located on the US Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, Joe was assigned to the New York Division of The FBI. He initially conducted investigations of white collar crime and organized crime, and eventually specialized in foreign counterintelligence investigations. In this assignment, Joe participated in a large number of classified, covert operations. During the eight years that he spent as an FBI Agent, Joe was also a legal advisor for the New York Office of the FBI.

Joe moved to San Diego in 1986 to join the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He served as a Deputy DA for three years, starting in the El Cajon Branch Office, where he prosecuted numerous driving under the influence cases. After being transferred to the downtown San Diego courthouse, Joe was assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit, where he prosecuted drug dealers who were involved in large scale narcotics operations.

In 1989 Joe moved to The United States Attorney's Office and became an Assistant US Attorney. He continues to serve as a criminal prosecutor in that office. During the fourteen years that Joe has been an AUSA, he has served in the narcotics, fraud, general crimes and terrorism, grand jury and border crimes units. He has prosecuted bank robbers, scam artists, postal thieves, felons in possession of firearms and drug and alien smugglers. He has also handled international judicial assistance and extradition matters. While assigned to the border crimes unit, Joe was a supervising attorney, serving as the leader of a trial team.

Joe is involved in numerous community organizations, including The San Diego Crime Commission. He serves on his homeowners association board of directors, through which he participates in the "Toys For Tots" Program. Joe is also a member of The San Diego County and Federal Bar Associations, as well as The Society Of Former Special Agents of the FBI. Joe has volunteered as a moot court judge at The University of San Diego and Thomas Jefferson Schools of Law, and he has also regularly co-hosted "The Primeris Law Hour" and "Independent Counsel" legal affairs radio programs.

In addition to undergraduate and law degrees, Joe holds a Masters in the Administration of Justice from Wichita State University, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Long Island University.

Joe and his wife Bernadette have been married for over 22 years. They live in University City. They have a seven year old son, Evan. For the past two years, Joe has been the manager of Evan's Little League T-ball team, as well as a coach of Evan's school soccer team.

Joe can be reached at Brannigan for Judge, PO Box 124710, San Diego 92112-4710. (858) 752-8301. Fax (858) 453-1935. http://www.BranniganForJudge.com