Judge Jose R. Benavides

• Current Position: Judge, Superior Court of Kern County, California (2010–Present)
• Education: B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles (1979); J.D. from UCLA School of Law (1982)
• Appointed to Bench: 2010, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Previous Legal Roles: Sole practitioner in Bakersfield (1997–2010); associate and partner positions in various California law firms (1984–1996)
• Areas of Jurisdiction: Currently handles family law and criminal cases (felonies & misdemeanors) at the Delano branch court
• Leadership: Assistant Supervising Judge for the court’s North Division (Delano branch)

Education and Early Career

Jose R. Benavides is a native of Kern County, California. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1979. He continued his studies at the UCLA School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor in 1982.

Immediately after law school, Judge Benavides served as a judicial law clerk for U.S. District Judge David V. Kenyon in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1984. This formative experience in federal court provided him with invaluable insight into trial proceedings and judicial decision-making early in his career.

Legal Career Before the Bench

After completing his clerkship, Benavides entered private practice. He worked as an associate at the prominent Los Angeles firm Irell & Manella LLP from 1984 to 1986, honing his skills in civil litigation. He then joined the firm of Hawkins, Schnabel & Lindahl LLP, where he served as an associate from 1986 to 1988. Seeking broader experience, he moved to Pasadena to practice with the Law Offices of Ned Good as an associate from 1988 to 1990.

In 1990, Jose Benavides co-founded the firm Vallejo & Benavides in Whittier, California, serving as a partner through 1992. He later relocated to Kern County, joining the Bakersfield law firm of Klein, Wegis & Associates as an associate from 1993 to 1996. In 1997, he established his own law practice in Bakersfield, working as a sole practitioner for over a decade. During these years (1997–2010), he handled a wide array of cases, gaining extensive experience in litigation and client advocacy in Kern County.

Judicial Appointment and Service

In 2010, Jose R. Benavides was appointed to the Kern County Superior Court bench by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Taking his oath of office that year, Judge Benavides began his judicial career serving the people of Kern County. Early in his tenure, he was assigned to court locations in rural parts of the county, including the Mojave and Lake Isabella courts. These assignments had him presiding over a variety of case types in more remote communities.

Over the years, Judge Benavides has presided over cases spanning criminal, civil, and family law matters. He currently sits in the Delano branch of the Kern County Superior Court, where he manages a mixed caseload that includes family law cases as well as criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). His breadth of experience across different case categories has made him a versatile member of the bench capable of handling diverse legal issues.

Judge Benavides has been re-elected to the Superior Court without opposition, including in 2018 and 2024, reflecting the community’s confidence in his judicial service. His current term extends through January 2031.

Leadership and Contributions

Within the Superior Court, Judge Benavides has taken on leadership responsibilities in addition to his courtroom duties. He serves as an Assistant Supervising Judge for the court’s North Division (Delano branch), helping to oversee and coordinate operations in the court’s outlying locations. In this role, he supported the Presiding Judge in administrative duties and in ensuring efficient justice services in branch courts outside the main courthouse.

Judge Benavides is known for his strong work ethic and dedication to timely justice. Colleagues and attorneys have noted his no-nonsense approach to managing his calendar and resolving cases, an attitude shaped by years of experience and his upbringing in Kern County. His background of working on family farms in his youth instilled in him a deep appreciation for hard work and the community he serves.

Throughout his career on the bench, Judge Benavides has maintained a commitment to fairness, attentiveness to litigants, and adherence to the rule of law. He continues to contribute to the Kern County legal community through his decisions and by mentoring newer attorneys and judges. His career trajectory from farm fields to the courtroom bench serves as an inspiring example of public service and dedication to justice in the community where he was raised.