Judge Tanya R. Richard

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of New Orleans; Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law.
• Early Legal Career: Longtime Kern County public defender – Deputy Public Defender (2008–2020), Chief Deputy Public Defender (2020–2022) and Assistant Public Defender (2022–2023).
• Judicial Appointment: Appointed to the Kern County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 28, 2023 (to fill the vacancy left by retired Judge Ralph Wyatt). Assumed the bench later in 2023.
• Court Assignment: Serves in the Bakersfield (Metropolitan) Division – currently assigned to Division G, handling domestic violence and family law cases.
• Notable Cases: As a newly appointed judge, she has handled family law and restraining order hearings; no published appellate opinions yet. (As a public defender, she had defended major cases, including a high-profile Kern County murder retrial.)
• Reputation & Ethics: Known as an experienced public defender and highly competent family law judge. No public record of ethics complaints or disciplinary actions; her professional record appears clean and respected among peers.

Education and Early Career

Tanya Richard completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Orleans and earned a Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. After law school she relocated to California and began her legal career. By 2008 she had joined the Kern County Public Defender’s Office. In that role she quickly developed experience in criminal and family law matters, representing indigent clients in trial court.

Public Defender Career

Richard spent nearly 15 years at the Kern County Public Defender’s Office. She served as a Deputy Public Defender from 2008 through 2020, and was promoted to Chief Deputy Public Defender from 2020 until 2022. In 2022 she became an Assistant Public Defender, the second-highest rank in the office, supervising other attorneys and major cases. Throughout her tenure, she handled a range of cases, from misdemeanor defense to serious felony trials.

Judicial Appointment and Service

On July 28, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Tanya Richard to serve as a judge on the Superior Court of Kern County. She filled the seat of Judge Ralph Wyatt, who had retired. Judge Richard took the oath later that year and began hearing cases. In California, superior court judges serve six-year terms and then stand for retention in a general election; as an appointee, Richard will be up for reelection according to the county’s election schedule.

Courtroom Assignments and Responsibilities

Judge Richard is assigned to Division G in the Bakersfield (Metropolitan) courthouse. Division G is designated for domestic violence and family law cases. In this capacity, she presides over family law proceedings including divorce and custody disputes, child support hearings, and domestic violence restraining order cases. She also handles related civil matters (such as civil harassment orders) that arise in family court.

Notable Cases and Public Contributions

Because her judgeship began in mid-2023, Judge Richard has not yet authored any published appellate opinions. Her decisions so far have been at the trial level, primarily in family law. For example, she has overseen custody and support hearings in local family law cases. Prior to joining the bench, Richard was involved as defense counsel in high-profile criminal cases in Kern County Superior Court (including a retrial of a former sheriff’s deputy accused of murder), though those cases were resolved in the trial phase. She has also worked with local legal organizations and training, reflecting her involvement in the legal community before and during her judicial tenure.

Judicial Temperament, Ethics, and Reputation

Judge Richard is generally regarded as a knowledgeable and diligent jurist. Her background as a public defender gives her a reputation for strong advocacy and understanding of criminal and family law issues. To date there are no public records of any ethics investigations or disciplinary sanctions against her in either role as attorney or judge. Colleagues and bar association members note her depth of courtroom experience. In sum, she is viewed as a fair-minded judge with solid legal expertise and no notable ethical controversies.