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David A. Roberti (born May 4, 1939) was President pro Tempore of the California State Legislature, in which he served for 27 years, its youngest member at the age of 26 when first elected to office in 1966. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as Deputy Attorney General of California and Majority Leader in the California State Senate. Roberti also served as a clerk in the California District Court of Appeals. Today, David Roberti runs his own private law practice headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Los Angeles, Roberti graduated from Loyola Marymount University. Following his undergraduate studies at LMU, Roberti attended the USC Gould School of Law at the University of Southern California. His interests in law and public service brought Roberti to the California District Court of Appeals, where he served as a clerk from 1964-1965. Roberti's aptitude for interpreting and understanding California State legislation earned him the position of Deputy Attorney General, California, in which he served from 1965-1966. He later resigned from the California State Assembly on July 29, 1971.

Majority Leader
Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) served as Majority Leader of the California State Senate from 1976-1980. His experience as Deputy Attorney General made him a competitive candidate for a seat in the California State Senate. In the general election of November, 1976, Roberti secured 69.3% of the vote and defeated Raymond J. Loftus (R). During his time spent as Majority Leader, Roberti served the 23rd Senate District of California, which included the city of Van Nuys, California.

President pro Tempore
Sen. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) served as President pro tempore of the California State Senate from 1980-1994. During which time he carefully crafted the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 or AWCA. The AWCA, enacted by the state of California, banned over fifty specific models of assault rifles and other military-grade weapons. Roberti worked in conjunction with the United States Department of Justice and the DEA to end the manufactured production, public sale and public use of assault rifles and other military-grade weapons in the state of California. The AWCA was passed by the California State Legislature in direct response to sharp increases in the use of assault weapons in attacks on law enforcement officers. Since the AWCA was enforced, the United States Department of Justice and the DEA have reported a decrease in violent attacks towards law enforcement officers involving such weapons the law banned.

Opposition
The AWCA received strong opposition from assault weapon manufactures to conservative anti-gun control interest groups like the NRA. For Senator Roberti, serving as President pro tempore of the California State Senate at the time, the opposition foreshadowed the end of his political career. Assault weapon manufacturers and anti-gun control interest groups began the motion to impeach Senator Roberti, by way of a recall election. However, their efforts were unsuccessful in obtaining the votes necessary to impeach Senator Roberti (59.25% opposed).

In 1992, Roberti resigned his Senate seat representing the 23rd Senate District to assume another seat where he would represent the 20th Senate District. Due to redistricting and the resignation of Alan Robbins in the 20th Senate District, Roberti was the first legislator to be subject to term limits, which inevitably ended his career in public service.

Since leaving public service, Roberti continues to practice law and established his private practice, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Roberti resides in Los Angeles with his wife June Roberti.