When California’s Legislature reconvenes on Jan. 11, Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, will be the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. A retired U.S. Army colonel, former federal prosecutor, Clinton appointee and litigator, Umberg said he’s not fazed by the committee’s heavy workload on hairy legal issues.

“It’s a fascinating place to be,” he said in a recent interview with The Recorder. Umberg talked about his plans for the committee and why he’s still actively practicing law at his Orange County firm, Umberg Zipser.