Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte
A general-jurisdiction trial court in California.
The Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte is a general-jurisdiction state trial court in California, where most civil and criminal cases are first heard. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections, the method California uses for its judges. This page lists the judges on record for this court from our public-records source, current and former; trial-court coverage is partial.
Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte is a general-jurisdiction trial court in California with 1 judge on its current roster, selected by merit selection with retention to 12-year terms; longest-serving: Robert Fredrick Cochran (since 2019).
Roster as of the CourtListener bulk-data snapshot (2026-03-31): recent departures and appointments may not be reflected, so it is shown as “on record,” not “currently serving.”
Judges on record
Former judges
| Judge | Years |
|---|---|
| Darren McElfresh | 2015–2023 |
| Chris Doehle | 2012–2015 |
| William H. Follett | 2000–2019 |
| Philip Schafer | 1998–2000 |
| Robert W. Weir | 1988–2012 |
| Frank S. Petersen | 1966–1988 |
Other courts in County, California
County is also served by these courts.
How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Superior Court of California, County of Del Norte are appointed by the governor to 12-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).