Solano County Superior Court Explained

Court Name:Solano County Superior Court
Jurisdiction:California
Solano County, California
Website:www.solano.courts.ca.gov
Chiefjudgetitle:Presiding Judge
Chiefjudgename:Alesia F. Jones
Termstart:2024
Chiefjudgetitle2:Court Executive Officer
Chiefjudgename2:Brian K. Taylor

The Solano County Superior Court is the California superior court with jurisdiction over Solano County.

Historical Summary

The California Constitution of 1849 laid the framework for the judicial system.[1] In Solano County, prior to the establishment of the superior court, there was a County Court and Court of Sessions. The judicial officers, all of whom were elected to office, included the County Judge and the Justices of the Peace. The first County Judge was Joseph Winston (1850) and the last John M. Gregory (who served intermittently from 1873–1884). Solano’s first superior court judge Abraham Jay Buckles ascended to the bench in 1885. Solano County still possessed municipal courts despite the establishment of the superior court. By 1987, there was the Solano County Superior Court, Vallejo Municipal Court District, and Northern Solano Judicial District (which comprised the Fairfield-Suisun-Vacaville Judicial and the Dixon Judicial Districts).[2] Following the passing of Proposition 220 (1998), Solano’s municipal courts were consolidated with the superior court.[3]

Courthouses

Fairfield

Hall of Justice

Established in 1970, the Hall of Justice is located at 600 Union Avenue in Fairfield, California. Its Neoclassical building (built in 1914) is the former site of Armijo High School.[4] [5] [6] By 1976, a connecting wing was constructed to accommodate more courtrooms and county and court departments. The Family Law/Adoption/Probate Division, Family Law Facilitator, Criminal/Traffic Division, Juvenile Division, Solano County Law Library, eleven courtrooms that mainly hear family or probate law cases, and other departments are located in the Hall of Justice.[7]

Law and Justice Center

The Law and Justice Center is located at 530 Union Avenue in Fairfield, California. The building, constructed by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, was established in 1989.[8] The Sheriff's Office and six courtrooms that mainly hear criminal cases are located in the Law and Justice Center.[9]

Old Solano Courthouse

The Old Solano Courthouse is located at 580 Texas Street in Fairfield, California. The Beaux-Arts building, designed by architect E.C. Hemmings, was originally built in 1911 and functioned as a courthouse until 1970 when the Hall of Justice was officially opened.[10] [11] The building then housed several county offices until the Solano County Government Center was constructed in 2005. Henceforth, the building remained vacant until undergoing a series of renovations beginning in 2013.[10] [12] The Old Solano Courthouse was officially reopened in 2014.[13] The Civil/Small Claims Division, Civil Mediation Center, and three courtrooms that mainly hear civil cases are located in the Old Solano Courthouse.[14]

Vallejo

Solano Justice Center

The Solano Justice Center, constructed by Beland Gianelli and Associates and Lillis and Cooper in the early 1970s, is located at 321 Tuolumne Street in Vallejo, California.[15] The Criminal/Traffic Division, four courtrooms that mainly hear criminal cases, and other court departments are located in the Solano Justice Center.

Court Executive Officers (1998–present)

In Solano County, prior to the consolidation of the municipal and superior courts, there was the Municipal Court Executive Officer who was appointed by the Presiding Judge with the majority of the judges of the court.[16] [17] After the consolidation, the position was henceforth referred to as the Court Executive Officer. California Rule of Court 10.610 states that the Court Executive Officer is responsible for personnel, budgetary, contractual and technological matters, as well as calendar management and jury management.[18] As of 1998, the following Court Executive Officers have served Solano County Superior Court:

Judicial Officers (Current)

Initially, upon the creation of Solano County Superior Court in 1884, there was only one superior court judge.[22] Beginning in 1943 (Stats. 1943, ch. 628), the number of judges began to steadily increase.[23] By 1985, California law at the time allowed for Solano County to have 5 superior court judges and 3 municipal court judges. With the passing of Assembly Bill 511 (1985), the number of judges increased to 7 and 4 respectively.[24] The next significant trend in the number of judicial officers occurred following the consolidation of the municipal and superior courts due to Proposition 220 (1998). The following judicial officers have been appointed to serve on the Superior Court of California, Solano County:

Judges

Arranged by appointment year, then alphabetically if applicable

Commissioners

Arranged by appointment year

Presiding Judges (2000–present)

According to California Rules of Court 10.602 and 10.603, the Presiding Judge is chosen by their peers and "elected for an initial term of not less than two years" if the court has three or more judges. With the assistance of the Court Executive Officer, the Presiding Judge's main objectives are to lead the court, establish policies, and allocate resources in order to ensure that the public has access to justice.[56] Since 2000, the following judicial officers have been appointed as the Presiding Judge for Solano County Superior Court:

Judicial Officers (Past)

The following judicial officers served on the Superior Court of California, Solano County:

Arranged by years of service

Judges

Commissioners

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Blume. William Wirt. January 1970. California Courts in Historical Perspective. Hastings Law Journal. 22. 1. 121–195.
  2. Book: Assembly, California Legislature. Assembly Bill. 1987. California Legislature. en.
  3. Book: The California State Constitution. Grodin. Joseph R.. Shanske. Darien. Salerno. Michael B.. 2016. Oxford University Press. 9780199988648. en.
  4. Web site: Armijo High building still majestic at 100. 2015-04-24. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  5. Web site: Back in the Day: Armijo High School history timeline. 2016-10-21. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  6. Web site: Landmark Fairfield building reaches centennial milestone. 2014-08-09. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  7. Web site: Family Law Setting Guide: Superior Court of California, County of Solano. www.solano.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-02.
  8. Web site: Solano County US Courthouses. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  9. Web site: Criminal Setting Guide: Superior Court of California, County of Solano. www.solano.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-02.
  10. Web site: Historic county courthouse amid transformation. 2014-01-02. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  11. Web site: Solano County. 2014-10-13. California Supreme Court Historical Society. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  12. Web site: Old court building renovators eye history. beniciaheraldonline.com. 2019-06-02.
  13. Web site: Solano County, Old Solano Courthouse Renovation – facilities_program. www.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-02.
  14. Web site: Civil Setting Calendar: Superior Court of California, County of Solano. www.solano.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-02.
  15. Web site: Solano County – Vallejo US Courthouses. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  16. Book: California. Deering's California codes. 1954. Bancroft-Whitney Co.. en.
  17. Book: Assembly, California Legislature. Assembly Bill. 1987. California Legislature. en.
  18. Web site: Title Ten Rules. www.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-05.
  19. Book: Report of the Judicial Council of California to the Governor and the Legislature. Council. California Judicial. Courts. California Administrative Office of the. 1996. California State Printing Office. en.
  20. Web site: Minutes For May 24, 2005. SOLANO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
  21. Web site: Solano County Superior Court promotes judge. 2005-11-13. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-05.
  22. Book: Crouch, Winston W.. Your California Governments in Action. 1964. University of California Press. en.
  23. Web site: STATUTES AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CODES 1943 clerk.assembly.ca.gov. clerk.assembly.ca.gov. 2019-06-05.
  24. Book: Assembly, California Legislature. Assembly Bill. 1985. California Legislature. en.
  25. Book: Opartny, Dennis J.. Judge Robert S. Bowers – Superior Court of California, County of Solano. Daily Journal Corporation. December 14, 2006. Judicial Profiles.
  26. Web site: Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. – Newsroom. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015193543/http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=2614. dead. 2014-10-15. 2014-10-15. 2019-06-02.
  27. Web site: Getty takes oath of office as new Superior Court judge. 2006-08-26. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  28. Web site: Three judges appointed in East Bay. 2008-07-21. East Bay Times. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  29. Web site: Tim Kam takes oath as Solano County Superior Court judge. 2010-06-14. East Bay Times. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  30. Web site: New Solano judge takes oath of office. 2010-01-22. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  31. Web site: Benicia"s Dan Healy takes on new role as Solano County Superior Court judge. 2011-01-17. Times-Herald. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  32. Web site: Interview: Dan Healy, Solano County Superior Court Judge – Benicia Magazine – July 2012 – Benicia, CA. www.beniciamagazine.com. 2019-06-02.
  33. Web site: Brown appoints Fairfield woman as new judge. 2013-12-27. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  34. Web site: Brown appoints Dixon attorney as Superior Court judge. 2016-06-28. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  35. Web site: Solano's newest judge takes office. 2016-07-29. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  36. Web site: Solano court hires new court commissioner. 2011-04-27. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  37. Web site: Ceremony fetes Solano's newest judge. 2017-02-07. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  38. Web site: Rios takes oath to become Solano's newest judge. 2017-12-30. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  39. Web site: Shauna L. Chastain BA '91, JD '96 appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to Solano County Superior Court Santa Clara Law. law.scu.edu. 2019-06-02.
  40. Web site: California Gets 21 New Superior Court Judges. Kahn. Robert. 2018-06-04. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  41. Web site: Newest Solano judge Jeff Kauffman takes bench. 2018-11-06. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  42. Web site: Familiar face returns to Solano County Superior Court. 2019-01-04. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  43. Web site: Judicial Profile: Commissioner Terrye Davis : Contra Costa County Bar Association. www.cccba.org. 2019-06-02.
  44. Web site: Gizzi wins Solano judgeship race. 2018-06-06. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  45. Web site: Governor taps deputy public defender to serve as Solano jurist. 2018-12-13. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  46. Web site: Stephanie Grogan Jones JD '04 sworn in as judge in Solano County Superior Court by The Honorable Dora M. Rios JD '98, Solano County Superior Court judge Santa Clara Law. law.scu.edu. 2019-06-02.
  47. Web site: 2021-09-08. Newsom appoints Vacaville woman to judgeship in Fairfield. 2021-09-09. The Vacaville Reporter. en-US.
  48. Web site: 2021-11-10. Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 11.10.21. 2021-12-03. California Governor. en.
  49. Web site: 2022-11-07 . Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 11.7.22 . 2022-11-16 . California Governor . en.
  50. Web site: 2024-01-30 . Governor Newsom Announces Judicial Appointments 1.29.24 . 2024-02-22 . California Governor . en.
  51. Web site: July 17, 2019 . COURT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF HON. BRYAN JOHN KIM . Solano County Superior Court.
  52. Web site: 2024-03-06 . New judge to be seated in Solano Superior Court . 2024-04-10 . DailyRepublic.com . en.
  53. Web site: Governor announces picks for courts of appeal, trial courts . 2024-04-10 . www.dailyjournal.com.
  54. Web site: Comm Haet Named Fam Law Jud Officer of the Year. https://web.archive.org/web/20090807135600/http://solano.courts.ca.gov/files/press/Press%20Release_7_17_08.pdf. dead. 2009-08-07. 2009-08-07. 2019-06-02.
  55. Web site: Klaman . Alex . 2023-02-17 . Susan A. Rados Appointed Commissioner . 2023-04-18 . Solano County Superior Court . en-US.
  56. Web site: Title Ten Rules. www.courts.ca.gov. 2019-06-05.
  57. Web site: SOLANO – JUDGE KAYS TO RETIRE. 2017-06-20. Legal Secretaries, Inc. – LSI. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  58. Web site: Foor announces retirement from Solano bench. 2018-06-28. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  59. Web site: Press Release: COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. PETER B. FOOR. June 27, 2018. Solano County Superior Court.
  60. Web site: Press Release: SOLANO SUPERIOR COURT'S JUDGE POWER RETIRES. October 16, 2015. Solano County Superior Court.
  61. Web site: Judge Ramona Garrett retires from Solano County bench. 2015-05-27. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  62. Web site: 2009-10-02 . Confirmation of the Honorable D. Scott Daniels as new Presiding Judge and election of the Honorable Paul L. Beeman as Assistant Presiding Judge . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091002182108/http://www.solano.courts.ca.gov/materials/Press%20ReleasePresidingJudgeAsstPresidingJudge2010-2011.pdf . 2009-10-02 . 2019-06-02.
  63. Web site: SOLANO – COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. PAUL L. BEEMAN. 2018-03-05. Legal Secretaries, Inc. – LSI. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  64. Web site: 2013-07-24 . Solano County Superior Court names new presiding judges . 2019-06-02 . The Reporter . en-US.
  65. Web site: Press Release: NEW PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE ANNOUNCED. July 6, 2017. Solano County Superior Court.
  66. Web site: 2015-08-07. Solano courts name next presiding judge, assistant. 2019-06-02. Daily Republic.
  67. Web site: NEW PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE ANNOUNCED. July 24, 2019. Solano County Superior Court.
  68. Web site: 2021-07-14. New Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge Announced. 2021-09-09. Solano County Superior Court. en-US.
  69. Web site: July 24, 2023 . NEW PRESIDING JUDGE AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING JUDGE ANNOUNCED . Solano County Superior Court.
  70. Web site: Abraham J. Buckles. 2019-06-01. www.courts.ca.gov. en. 2019-06-02.
  71. Book: Gregory, Thomas Jefferson. History of Solano and Napa Counties, California, with Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the Counties who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present Time. 396. 1912. Historic Record Company. en.
  72. Book: Bates, Joseph Clement. History of the Bench and Bar of California. 342. 1912. Bench and Bar Publishing Company. en.
  73. Book: Who's who in Banking. 1922. Business Press Incorporated. en.
  74. Web site: Solano County – History of the District Attorney's. www.solanocounty.com. 2019-06-02.
  75. Web site: JUDGE DEVLIN RESIGNS TO RESUME PRACTICING. February 18, 1909. cdnc.ucr.edu. 2019-06-02.
  76. Web site: Solano County Judge Seeks Re-Election. July 12, 1920. cdnc.ucr.edu. 2019-06-02.
  77. Web site: The Judiciary of Solano County, California. history.rays-place.com. 2019-06-02.
  78. Web site: SOLANO HAS ONE CONTEST Judge, State Senator and Supervisors Will Have No Opposition.. August 4, 1920. cdnc.ucr.edu. 2019-06-02.
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  84. Greenwood was appointed after Stats. 1943, ch. 628 was passed to allow Superior Courts of California to have 2 superior court judges.
  85. News: Ex-Judge Raymond Sherwin; Served as Sierra Club Leader. Ap. 1981-09-06. The New York Times. 2019-06-03. en-US. 0362-4331.
  86. Web site: Knight Appoints Three Judges. October 29, 1956. cdnc.ucr.edu. 2019-06-03.
  87. Book: The American Bench. Hough. Marie T.. Barnes. Nancy L.. 1987. Reginald Bishop Forster & Associates. 9780931398155. en.
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  92. Web site: Jensen, retired Solano judge, dies at 86. 2012-07-17. Daily Republic. 2019-06-03.
  93. Web site: Michael McInnis Obituary. 2010. Legacy.com.
  94. Web site: Solano County Oral Histories Ready for Legal History Museum. Smith. R. Michael. 2010. CSCH Newsletter.
  95. Web site: Frederick Paul Dacey Jr #28045 – Attorney Search. members.calbar.ca.gov. 2019-06-03.
  96. Web site: SOLANO COUNTY / Attorneys Ichikawa, Beeman Named to Bench. 2000-04-11. SFGate. 2019-06-03.
  97. Web site: Dwight C. Ely #28902 – Attorney Search. members.calbar.ca.gov. 2019-06-03.
  98. Web site: Dispensing justice and helping out. 2005-10-31. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  99. Web site: 2020-08-01 . Judge Luis Mario Villarreal . 2022-09-16 . Daily Republic.
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  103. Book: Blumberg, Mark. Assigned Judge James F. Moelk, Superior Court of California, County of Solano. Daily Journal Corporation. April 11, 2000. Judicial Profiles.
  104. Web site: PETERSON, J. [John] Clinton]. California Appellate Court Legacy Project – Interviewee Biography: Justice J. Clinton Peterson.
  105. Web site: Bunting to step down as Solano's chief attorney after 24 years. 2019-02-23. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  106. Web site: Judge reflects on legal career, retirement. 2010-12-09. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  107. Web site: UC Davis School of Law – Profiles – Judge Ramona J. Garrett. law.ucdavis.edu. 2019-06-02.
  108. Web site: Press Release: COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. HARRY S. KINNICUTT. February 26, 2018. Solano County Superior Court.
  109. Web site: Long-time Solano County judge dies. 2006-03-08. Times-Herald. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  110. Web site: UC Davis School of Law – Profiles – Judge Ramona J. Garrett. law.ucdavis.edu. 2019-06-05.
  111. Web site: Solano court reports Judge Scott Kays to retire. 2017-06-03. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  112. Web site: Judge Smith plans return after retiring. 2007-05-06. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  113. Book: The American Bench. Finn. Marie T.. Irvine. Diana R.. Bliss. Mary Lee. Pratton. Gina L. (CON). Morgan. Samantha (CON). 2009. Forster-Long. 9780931398582. en.
  114. Web site: Solano County gets new judge. 2013-12-28. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-04.
  115. Web site: Press Release: COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. GARRY T. ICHIKAWA. October 18, 2017. Solano County Superior Court.
  116. Web site: Judge Ichikawa retires from Solano County Superior Court. 2017-10-19. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  117. Web site: Solano County Judge Garry T. Ichikawa announces retirement. 2017-10-18. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  118. Web site: Press Release: COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. PAUL L. BEEMAN. February 21, 2018. Solano County Superior Court.
  119. Web site: Judge Paul L. Beeman retires, reflects on his family's Solano County roots. 2018-03-06. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  120. Web site: Vallejo native Judge Paul L. Beeman calls it a career after almost 18 years. 2018-02-22. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  121. Web site: Press Release: JUDGE UNGER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT. April 30, 2018. Solano County Superior Court.
  122. Book: Johnson, Phil. Michael C. Mattice – Superior Court of California, County of Solano. February 9, 2017. Daily Journal Corporation. Judicial Profiles.
  123. Web site: Sounding the gavel on a career. 2020-03-26. The Reporter. en-US. 2020-03-31.
  124. Web site: 2017-07-06 . Pair of changes announced in Solano County Superior Court . 2019-06-02 . The Reporter . en-US.
  125. Web site: 2020-02-21. Longtime Superior Court judge to retire at month's end. 2020-06-20. The Reporter. en-US.
  126. Web site: July 5, 2023 . COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. E. BRADLEY NELSON . Solano County Superior Court.
  127. Web site: A view from the bench: Longtime jurist steps down. 2011-06-05. Daily Republic. 2019-06-02.
  128. Book: Blumberg, Mark. Commissioner J. Paul Coan, Solano Superior Court. Daily Journal Corporation. July 25, 1996. Judicial Profiles.
  129. Web site: Minutes for June 14, 2005. SOLANO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
  130. Web site: Court commissioner retiring to become full-time grandma. 2008-05-25. The Reporter. en-US. 2019-06-02.
  131. Book: Blumberg, Mark. Commissioner Raymond C. Weiser, Jr. – Solano Superior Court. September 27, 1996. Daily Journal Publications. Judicial Profiles.
  132. Web site: COURT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF HON. RAYMOND C. WIESER, JR.. July 8, 2019. Solano County Superior Court.
  133. Web site: February 2, 2017 . Press Release: Robert Q. Warshawsky Appointed Commissioner . Solano County Superior Court.

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