He was appointed to that court by President George W. Bush in 2003 to replace Judge Charles Edward Wiggins.

After having his residency reinstated and accumulating the requisite physical presence, Bea petitioned for and became a naturalized citizen in 1959.

He was in private practice in California after that, but in 1990 he became a trial judge on the San Francisco County Superior Court.

[7] In June 2019, Bea announced his intention to assume senior status upon the nomination, confirmation and appointment of a successor.

[5] The Bea family lived in the historic Casebolt House (built c. 1865) in Cow Hollow, San Francisco.