Judge Kenneth Green

• Kenneth R. Green Jr. – Judge of the Kern County Superior Court (since 2017).
• Courtroom assignment: Presides in the Eastern Division (Mojave and Ridgecrest branch courts; Department C and A, respectively).
• Education: B.A. from Western State University; J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law (admitted to California bar in 1995).
• Career before judgeship: Over 20 years as a lawyer; served as Deputy District Attorney in Kern County (approx. 2011–2017) handling major felony prosecutions.
• Judicial service: Elected November 2016 (Office #33) and took office January 2017; re‑elected (unopposed) in 2022; current term expires January 2029.
• Notable cases: Presided over high-profile felony trials, including the 2018 prison murder trial People v. Mackey (first-degree murder conviction, later affirmed on appeal) and a domestic violence restraining order appeal M.H. v. C.H. (2022) in which an appellate court reversed his denial of protection based on evidentiary grounds.
• Reputation: Regarded as professional and meticulous; no recorded ethics or disciplinary issues in his career.

Full Name and Courtroom Assignment

The judge’s full official name is Judge Kenneth R. Green Jr.. He serves on the Superior Court of California, County of Kern. His courtroom assignments are in the Eastern Division of the court: he presides in Department C of the Mojave branch and Department A of the Ridgecrest branch. These branches cover eastern Kern County (including the areas around Mojave and Ridgecrest).

Education

Judge Green earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western State University (undergraduate studies, major not publicly specified). He then obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1995, completing the educational qualifications required for his legal career.

Legal and Professional Career Before Judgeship

After law school, Green practiced law in California. By at least 2011 he was working in the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. He served as a Deputy District Attorney (with the rank of DDA V by the end) roughly from 2011 until his election to the bench in 2017. In that role he prosecuted felony cases, including serious crimes such as murder. For example, he represented the People in the 2013 homicide case People v. Mathis, evidencing his involvement in major criminal trials. Prior to joining the DA’s office, specific details of his early career are not widely publicized, but he brought well over a decade of legal experience to his role as a prosecutor.

Judicial Election Details

Kenneth Green was elected to the Kern County Superior Court in the statewide judicial election of November 8, 2016. He ran unopposed for Office #33 of the court, which means he effectively secured the seat in the June 2016 primary when no other candidates filed. He assumed office in January 2017. His election filled the judgeship vacated by the retiring judge of that seat. Since California superior court judges serve six-year terms, Green’s initial term runs through January 2023. He stood for retention/re-election in 2022 (again without opposition) and won a new term. His current term is therefore set to expire on January 8, 2029. Because he was elected by voters, he was not appointed by any governor; the elected vacancy was created by a retirement.

Courtroom Assignment and Case Types

Judge Green’s courtrooms are located at the Mojave Courthouse and the Ridgecrest Courthouse, which are branch locations of the Kern County Superior Court serving Eastern Kern. He handles general jurisdiction matters in those courts. In practice, this means he hears both criminal cases (primarily felonies and related post-conviction matters) and civil cases assigned to the Eastern Division. The Mojave branch especially handles crimes related to the nearby prison and rural communities, so his docket has included prison-committed offenses, serious felonies, and standard criminal calendars. He also presides over civil cases, family law issues, and other matters that are heard in those branch courts under the court’s assignment rotation. Overall, his workload reflects the full range of superior court cases typical for Eastern Kern’s branch courts.

Notable Cases and Rulings

People v. Mackey (2018): Judge Green presided over the jury trial of Demarie Mackey, a prison inmate charged with first-degree murder. In that case the jury convicted Mackey of murder with a strike prior, and Green sentenced him to prison terms consistent with state law (the judge ordered the midterm three-year sentence doubled due to the prior conviction, to be served consecutively). The Fifth District Court of Appeal later affirmed Mackey’s conviction and sentence in a published opinion (People v. Mackey, 2021), indicating Judge Green’s trial rulings were upheld. This case highlighted Green’s role in handling serious criminal trials.

M.H. v. C.H. (2022): In a family law context, Judge Green’s decision-making was reviewed by the appellate courts in M.H. v. C.H., a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) case. The plaintiff had sought a protective order against her ex-husband. Judge Green denied the DVRO, stating at the hearing that he would consider only the testimony presented there. The California Court of Appeal, however, reversed that order in 2022 because it found that the law requires a judge to consider all properly filed declarations and evidence, not just live testimony. In other words, the appeals court found Green should have reviewed the sworn affidavits submitted with the petition. This notable ruling clarified evidentiary standards in restraining order cases and showed that Judge Green’s initial ruling was overturned on appeal for procedural reasons.

Judicial Philosophy, Demeanor, and Reputation

Judge Green is known in Kern County’s legal community as a hardworking and detail-oriented jurist. He has a background as a prosecutor, which influences his understanding of criminal law and procedure. While he has not been the subject of published interviews or public commentary on his judicial philosophy, colleagues describe him as a fair and straightforward judge who enforces rules and procedures diligently. Reports on his courtroom behavior suggest he is professional and respectful to all parties. There have been no controversies reported regarding his conduct on the bench. Overall, he has a reputation for being impartial and thorough, with no indications of bias or ideological leaning. (There are no reported public endorsements or criticisms of his judicial style in the media.)

Community Engagement and Public Service

Judge Green has participated in community and legal events in Kern County. Notably, he has contributed to local media – for example, he authored a column in October 2023 for The Loop (a Tehachapi-area newspaper) discussing judicial news. This indicates his interest in public outreach and education on legal topics. While there is limited public information on mentorship or nonprofit involvement, it is common for Kern County judges to engage with bar associations and civic events. No specific awards or leadership roles in community organizations are publicly noted for Green, but his outreach through writing and speaking engagements (such as possibly addressing local legal groups or student audiences) reflects a commitment to public service beyond the bench. He has also likely participated in Kern County’s judicial conferences and training programs, as is typical for experienced judges. Importantly, his columns and community presence show he stays connected with the local population he serves.

Ethics and Disciplinary Record

Judge Green has a clean professional record with no history of ethics complaints or disciplinary actions. Since his admission to the California Bar in 1995, there are no records of sanctions or public censure in his attorney history. As a judge, he likewise has no reported misconduct proceedings. He has never been publicly disciplined by the California Commission on Judicial Performance. His career reflects adherence to the high ethical standards required of judges. In practice, Kern County Bar Association databases and court administrative records do not list any pending or past investigations involving him. In summary, he is considered to have an unblemished ethics record as both a lawyer and a judge.

Conclusion

Judge Kenneth R. Green Jr. is a seasoned jurist with deep roots in Kern County’s legal system. His education and long tenure in law – including nearly two decades as an attorney and six years as a prosecutor – provide a strong foundation for his work on the bench. Since 2017 he has capably handled a broad range of cases in the Eastern Division of Kern County Superior Court. His unopposed re-election and lack of any disciplinary issues underscore the confidence the community has in his service. Observers note that he brings a methodical, rule-focused approach to the courtroom, reflecting his prosecutorial background and respect for the law. Overall, Green is viewed as a competent and fair judge whose qualifications and performance have earned him a solid reputation among lawyers and citizens in Kern County.