A state trial court / Established 1959

Superior Court of California, County of Riverside

A general-jurisdiction trial court in California.

The Superior Court of California, County of Riverside 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.

135
Judges in history
58
Currently serving
Merit selection
Selection
12-yr
Term
Current judges
Former judges
JudgeYears
Sunshine Suzanne Sykes2013–2022
John W. Vineyard2011–2020
Victoria E. Cameron2010–2018
Michael B. Donner2008–2019
John M. Monterosso2007–2019
David B. Downing2006–2013
Jeffrey Prevost2006–2018
Sarah Adams Christian2005–2016
Sherrill A. Ellsworth2005–2014
Harold W. Hopp2005–2016
Douglas E. Weathers2005–2010
Richard A. Erwood2003–2017
Michele D. Levine2003–2016
Elisabeth Sichel2002–2014
Thomas H. Cahraman2001–2010
Helios (Joe) II Hernandez2001–2018
Arthur S. Block2000–2002
Paul E. Zellerbach2000–2011
Becky Lynn Dugan1999–2020
B. J. Bjork1998–2007
Mark Ashton Cope1998–2014
James A. Cox1998–2018
Thomas N., Jr. Douglass1998–2007
James S. Hawkins1998–2017
Timothy J. Heaslet1998–2004
Curtis R. Hinman1998–1999
Dennis A. McConaghy1998–2007
Janice M. McIntyre1998–2003
Arjuna T. Saraydarian1998–2005
Vilia G. Sherman1998–2005
Robert George Spitzer1998–2007
Charles E., Jr. Stafford1998–2018
Ronald L. Taylor1998–2003
Christian F. Thierbach1998–2015
Gary B. Tranbarger1998–2014
Rodney L. Walker1998–2008
Sharon J. Waters1998–2019
Randall D. White1998–2012
Albert J. Wojcik1998–2014
Douglas Paul Miller1996–2006
Graham Anderson Cribbs1990–2010
Charles D. Field1990–2004
J. Thompson Hanks1990–2008
Erik Michael Kaiser1990–2007
Robert J. McIntyre1990–2010
Stephen D. Cunnison1989–2008
Ronald R. Heumann1989–2005
Herbert Dennis Myers1989–2006
Richard G. Van Frank1989–2002
Harry Morgan Dougherty1988–2007
Patrick F. Magers1987–2010
William H. Sullivan1987–1999
James T. Warren1987–2008
Gordon R. Burkhart1986–2006
Robert D. Macomber1986–1994
Victor Miceli1986–2001
Edward D. Webster1986–2010
William R., Jr. Bailey1985–1998
Eugene R. Bishop1985–2002
James H. Herrin1984–1992
Noah N. Jamin1982–1991
John H. Barnard1981–1991
Elwood M. Rich1980–1980
John P. Carroll1979–1989
Robert K. Garst1979–1998
David J. Hennigan1979–1986
Ronald T. Deissler1977–1993
George G. Grover1976–1990
J. William Mortland1976–1989
Ernest M. Lopez1975–1985
John D. McFarland1975–1984
Gerald F. Schulte1974–1988
Fred R., Jr. Metheny1971–1989
Frank R. Moore1970–1988
Edward Scott Dales1966–1983
Warren E. Slaughter1966–1984
Leo A. Deegan1959–1975

How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside 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 last verified 2026-06-30. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).