Lawyer who defended drug lord 'El Chapo' elected as judge

Attorney general appoints controversial former defense attorney to the bench

The appointment of US lawyer Eduardo Balarezo to the position of district judge in cannabis-friendly California has been met with criticism over his past work defending drug trafficker Joaquín Guzmán, known as El Chapo.

Balarezo defended El Chapo for seven years, between 2007 and 2014, and continued to represent him after his extradition to the United States and trial in New York.

Now, he will be sitting in judgment of others as appointed by the attorney general despite growing controversy.