JudicialFinder
A state trial court / Established 1961

Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin

A general-jurisdiction trial court in California.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin 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.

60
Judges in history
20
Currently serving
Merit selection
Selection
12-yr
Term
Current judges
JudgeSince
Bernard J. Garber1998
Anthony P. Lucaccini1998
Richard Morten Mallett1998
Elizabeth Humphreys2002
Richard Alan Vlavianos2002
Barbara Aysha Kronlund2005
Charlotte J. Orcutt2005
Lauren P. Thomasson2005
Ronald Andrew Northup2006
Antonino J. Agbayani Jr.2007
Roger Ross2007
Seth Russel Hoyt Jr.2010
Brett Huston Morgan2010
Kristine Alane-Cour Eagle2015
Michael Jeffrey Mulvihill Jr.2015
Gus Correa Barrera II2017
John Richard Soldati2018
Jayne Chong-Soon Lee2019
Blanca A. Banuelos2020
Lance Gabriel Jacot2020
Former judges
JudgeYears
Lesley D. Holland2014–2015
William D. Johnson2010–2020
W. Stephen Scott2010–2019
Phillip R. Urie2009–2019
William J. Murray Jr.2008–2009
Xapuri Villapudua2007–2021
Jose L. Alva2006–2017
Michael D. Coughlan2005–2020
Richard J. Guiliani2005–2007
Bobby W. McNatt2004–2005
Robin Appel2003–2011
Cinda Sanchez Fox2003–2010
Linda L. Lofthus2003–2019
Franklin M. Stephenson2002–2015
George J., Jr. Abdallah1998–2003
Robert F. Baysinger1998–2005
James E. Cadle1998–2004
James E., Jr. Hammerstone1998–2005
Rolleen Kent McIlwrath1998–2003
John W. Parker1998–2008
Sandra Butler Smith1998–2001
Thomas B., Jr. Teaford1998–2002
David P. Warner1998–2018
F. Clark, Jr. Sueyres1989–2009
Terrence R. Van Oss1989–2014
Nels B. Fransen1985–1994
Stephen G. Demetras1984–2006
Frank A. Grande1984–1998
J. Kenneth Ferguson1983–1993
Michael N. Garrigan1983–2003
William R. Giffen1981–1995
K. Peter Saiers1981–2005
Norman C. Sullivan1981–1981
John F., Jr. Cruikshank1980–1996
Duane Martin1980–1995
Frank S. Kim1979–1991
Chris Papas1973–1983
James P. Darrah1971–1993
William L. Dozier1962–1984
William , Jr. Biddick1961–1980

How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin 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).