Judge Donald B. Griffith

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton; J.D. from California Southern Law School.
• Appointment: Appointed (interim) as Kern County Superior Court Judge in 2024 (elected to a term beginning January 2025).
• Assignment: Family Law division (Division B) of the Kern County Superior Court, Metropolitan Justice Building (Bakersfield).

Background and Education

Donald B. Griffith earned his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fullerton, and received his Juris Doctor from California Southern Law School (Riverside) in 1992. After admission to the California Bar in 1992, he began his legal career in Southern California. He worked initially at law firms handling personal injury and insurance defense matters, but soon shifted his focus to family law. In 1995, he opened a solo practice in the Coachella Valley (Palm Desert/Indian Wells area), where he handled divorce, custody, support and related domestic relations cases for over twenty years. During this time he developed a reputation in family law and in 2014 earned Board of Legal Specialization certification as a Family Law Specialist.

Throughout his legal career, Griffith has also contributed to the judiciary in a volunteer capacity. He served on the family law mediation panel in Riverside County and spent many hours acting as a temporary (pro tem) judge for domestic relations cases. These experiences, along with his decades of practice in family law, provided practical preparation for his eventual judicial role.

Judicial Appointment

Griffith successfully ran for a judgeship in Kern County and won the election outright in March 2024. Governor Gavin Newsom then announced an interim appointment for Griffith in May 2024, allowing him to begin serving immediately on the bench. This appointment filled the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Stephen Schuett and meant that Griffith could start hearing cases in mid-2024 rather than waiting until January 2025. He was officially sworn in for his elected six-year term on January 1, 2025, a term that extends through January 2031. The combined election and interim appointment ensured a seamless transition and continuous staffing of the court’s family law division.

Courtroom Assignment and Duties

Judge Griffith is assigned to the Family Law department (Division B) at the Kern County Superior Court’s Metropolitan Justice Building in Bakersfield. In this role he presides over family law cases and related matters. His docket includes divorce proceedings, child custody and visitation cases, spousal and child support hearings, domestic partnerships, paternity actions, and adoption matters. He also hears civil protection order cases under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which encompasses domestic violence and elder/dependent adult abuse restraining orders as part of the family law docket. These family law cases often involve complex and sensitive personal issues, and Judge Griffith handles the full range of case management and trial proceedings required by state law.

Notable Cases

As a newly seated judge, Griffith has not yet been associated with any high-profile published rulings. His work on the bench to date consists of routine family law and domestic violence cases typical of Division B’s jurisdiction. Prior to taking the bench, he handled a high volume of cases as a family law commissioner – reports indicate he managed hundreds of domestic violence and elder abuse cases in that capacity – but none of those individual cases have been highlighted in media reports. Public records and legal reporting show no notable appellate decisions or landmark cases under his name at this time. His caseload is largely made up of the many day-to-day family law matters that occupy the trial courts, and no specific case has risen to public prominence since he assumed judicial office.

Judicial Reputation and Temperament

Judge Griffith is regarded as a calm and steady presence on the bench. Profiles of his career note that his background (including time spent as an educator) contributes to an orderly and patient courtroom style. Attorneys who have appeared before him describe him as composed and even-tempered, qualities that are valuable when managing emotionally charged family law proceedings. He is known for being well-prepared for hearings and for treating litigants with courtesy and respect. While no formal judicial evaluations are publicly available, the general consensus is that Griffith is conscientious and fair in conducting court business. His extensive experience in family law gives him confidence and expertise in handling complex personal disputes, and colleagues say he is not easily rattled by heated exchanges or difficult testimony.

Ethics and Community Involvement

Griffith has maintained a clean professional record throughout his career. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 1992 and is a Certified Family Law Specialist, reflecting his adherence to professional standards in his practice area. There are no known disciplinary actions against him. He has also demonstrated community engagement outside the courtroom. Earlier in his career he served multiple terms on the board of trustees for the Desert Sands Unified School District in Riverside County, indicating a commitment to public education and local governance. In addition, Griffith volunteered as a family law mediator and temporary judge, contributing his time to court programs without compensation. These roles show a pattern of community service and involvement in professional associations related to family law. Overall, his career has combined legal practice with public service, and he is viewed as an active, contributing member of the legal community.

Summary

Judge Donald B. Griffith brings decades of family law experience to the Kern County Superior Court. A longtime attorney in Southern California who became a certified family law specialist, he was named to the bench in 2024 to fill a vacancy and now serves in the Family Law department in Bakersfield. He handles divorce, custody, support, and domestic violence cases, applying his expertise and steady demeanor to often difficult matters. Known for his calm, methodical courtroom approach and clear communication, he continues to draw on his extensive practice background. As Judge Griffith fulfills his elected term (through 2031), he remains focused on fairly and efficiently resolving family law disputes, upholding the standards of the judiciary and serving the public with impartiality.