The Hon. Donald R. Franson, Jr. is an associate justice for the California Fifth District Court of Appeal. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010, filling a vacancy created by the nomination of the Hon. Brad Hill as Presiding Justice.
Franson earned a B.A. in American history from the University of California, Berkeley in 1974. He then completed a J.D. at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1978.
After graduating from law school, Franson began his legal career as a deputy district attorney in the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. He served in that capacity until 1980, at which time he entered into private practice.
While in private practice, Franson performed a brief stint as general counsel and executive vice president of Producers Cotton Oil Company (1987 to 1991). Then, in 1994, he became a partner at Sagaser, Hansen & Franson, where he handled commercial and agricultural litigation until his appointment to the Fresno County Superior Court by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005.
His memberships have included the Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Civil Jury Instructions. He sat as a board member of the Central Valley Foundation, the Fig Garden Protection District, and the Fresno Regional Foundation.
He is a recipient of the Blaine T. Pettitt Mentor Award from the Fresno County Young Lawyers Association.
Franson was raised in Fresno.