Judge Dawn Bittleston

  • Current Position: Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Kern (2023–present)
  • Current Assignment: Family Law (Division E), Metropolitan Division (Bakersfield)
  • Appointed: June 27, 2023 (by Governor Gavin Newsom)
  • Assumed Office: July 7, 2023
  • Term Expires: January 6, 2031 (elected March 2024)
  • Previous Roles: Court Commissioner, Kern County Superior Court (2018–2023); Senior Court Attorney (2016–2017); Private Practice Attorney & Law Firm Partner (1998–2016)
  • Education: B.A., California State University, Bakersfield; J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law

Judge Dawn Bittleston is a Superior Court judge in Kern County, California, currently presiding over family law cases at the court’s Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield. She was appointed to the Kern County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 27, 2023, to fill a newly created judgeship, and she officially assumed office on July 7, 2023. Judge Bittleston subsequently stood for election in 2024 and, running unopposed, secured a full six-year term on the bench that extends through January 2031.

Education and Early Legal Career

Bittleston earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Bakersfield in 1994. She went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law in 1998. After law school, she began her legal career as an associate attorney at the law firm Bryan Cave LLP, where she worked from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Bittleston briefly operated her own solo law practice. By 2001, she had joined the Bakersfield firm of Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb & Kimball, LLP as a partner, and she practiced at that firm until 2006, handling both civil and family law matters. From 2006 to 2016, Bittleston again ran her own law office in Bakersfield, focusing primarily on family law. During this period, she also served of counsel with the law firm Young Wooldridge LLP from 2011 to 2013, further expanding her experience in family and civil legal issues.

Service as Court Attorney and Commissioner

In 2016, Bittleston transitioned from private practice to a role within the court system. She served as a senior attorney at the Kern County Superior Court from 2016 to 2017, where she worked on legal research and provided support to the court’s judges and operations. In 2018, she was appointed as a Court Commissioner for the Kern County Superior Court. In that capacity, Bittleston acted as a subordinate judicial officer, presiding over cases in venues such as the Delano and Shafter branch courts. As a commissioner, she handled a variety of matters – particularly in family law and related areas – gaining judicial experience and familiarity with the issues affecting families in the community. She served as a commissioner for five years until her appointment to the bench in 2023.

Appointment to the Bench

On June 27, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Dawn Bittleston as a Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern. This appointment filled a new judicial position that had been created by the state legislature (effective July 1, 2022) to help address the court’s growing workload. Bittleston was sworn in as a judge on July 7, 2023, and she was assigned to hear family law cases at the court’s Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield. In the March 5, 2024 primary election, Judge Bittleston ran unopposed for retention of her seat; the election was canceled, and she thereby earned a full term lasting until January 6, 2031. Bittleston is not affiliated with any political party, being registered with no party preference.

Expertise and Professional Involvement

Judge Bittleston is recognized for her expertise in family law. She is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization, reflecting her extensive focus on family-related legal matters throughout her career. Over the years, she has been active in professional organizations such as the Kern County Bar Association. She has also been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, underscoring her engagement with the broader legal community. Bittleston’s varied background – including private practice, court administration, and service as a commissioner – has provided her with a well-rounded perspective on the law. She is known for bringing this breadth of experience to the bench, particularly in cases involving families and children.