Judge David Zulfa

  • Position: Judge, Superior Court of California, Kern County (Metropolitan Division – Dept. 18, Felony Calendar)
  • Appointed: 2014 by Governor Jerry Brown; sworn in January 2015
  • Prior Experience: Kern County Deputy District Attorney (2002–2014); Clifford & Brown (2000–2002)
  • Education: B.A. in Communications, CSUB (1991); J.D., California Pacific School of Law
  • Recognition: CSU Bakersfield Alumni Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2026)
  • Case Types: Felony trials, gang/homicide, complex civil (employment, contracts)

Education and Early Career

David R. Zulfa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Bakersfield, in 1991. He later completed a Juris Doctor at California Pacific School of Law. Early in his legal career he worked as an associate at the Bakersfield firm Clifford & Brown (2000–2002). He then spent 12 years as a prosecutor in the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, from 2002 until his judicial appointment in 2014. During that time he handled a wide range of criminal cases – including drug, theft, and homicide prosecutions – building extensive trial experience.

Judicial Appointment and Service

In December 2014, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Zulfa to the Kern County Superior Court to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Louis P. Etcheverry. He assumed the bench in early 2015. Zulfa is assigned to Department 18 in the Kern County Superior Court’s Metropolitan Division (Bakersfield), where he handles felony cases and related matters. He was re-elected without opposition in 2016 and again in 2022, and his current term runs through January 2029. As a trial judge in the felony calendar, Zulfa regularly presides over serious criminal trials – including gang-related violence, armed robberies, and at least one capital-murder (death penalty) case – as well as certain complex civil matters that may reach the felony department by statute.

Notable Civil Cases

Judge Zulfa has rendered key rulings in civil litigation, especially in employment and contract matters. In a 2025 sexual-harassment lawsuit (Kruitbosch v. Bakersfield Recovery Services), he granted the employer’s demurrer and dismissed the complaint without leave to amend, finding that the off-site misconduct alleged was not sufficiently “work-related” to be actionable under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. The Fifth District Court of Appeal later reversed part of his ruling, holding that the facts could support a hostile-work-environment claim.

In 2024’s Ramirez v. Golden Queen Mining, Zulfa presided over a wage-and-hour class action involving a mandatory arbitration agreement. He denied the company’s motion to compel arbitration because it did not present a signed arbitration agreement in evidence. On appeal, the appellate court agreed that the plaintiff’s mere failure to recall signing the document did not create a factual issue about the signature’s authenticity, and it remanded for further proceedings on the remaining contract defenses.

Zulfa has also addressed civil rights claims. For example, he granted an employer’s demurrer in an age- and race-discrimination suit under California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act (Age v. Mission Bank, 2024). The appellate court reversed that dismissal as well, ruling that the complaint’s allegations – if true – could state a colorable bias claim. These examples show that in civil cases Zulfa applies rigorous pleading standards and careful contract analysis, requiring plaintiffs to meet clear criteria before allowing a case to proceed to trial.

Notable Criminal Cases

Two Wasco gang members were convicted of a violent assault in 2022; their sentencing was set for July 2025 before Judge Zulfa. These gang-related violent felonies exemplify the serious criminal matters on Zulfa’s docket. In June 2025, local news reported that two men convicted of a Wasco-area gang shooting were to be sentenced by Zulfa, each facing decades in prison.

In People v. Banner (2022) he presided over a double attempted-robbery trial involving gang allegations; the defendant was convicted on both counts, and Zulfa imposed a nine-year prison term (with strike priors doubled under California’s three-strikes law). The Fifth District Court of Appeal upheld his judgment, rejecting the defense claim that the court had erred by not sua sponte considering a mental-health diversion program.

In People v. Dominguez (2021), Zulfa oversaw a second-degree robbery case with multiple prior strikes and narcotics charges. The defendant was convicted by jury, sentenced to 25-to-life, and all of Zulfa’s evidentiary rulings were affirmed on appeal.

In People v. Richardson (2022) he denied a defendant’s belated request to withdraw his no-contest pleas to auto theft and drug charges; the appeals court largely affirmed, ordering only a technical correction to the judgment’s credit calculations. These cases illustrate that Judge Zulfa applies standard criminal procedure, conducts fair trials and sentencing, and imposes lawful penalty enhancements.

Courtroom Approach and Management

Sources indicate that Judge Zulfa emphasizes strict adherence to legal rules and courtroom procedure. He has been noted for meticulous scheduling and expects lawyers to follow scheduled dates and evidentiary protocols. His written orders tend to be detailed, especially on motions. His handling of sentencing and evidentiary matters has generally been affirmed by appellate courts, with narrow adjustments as needed.

Honors and Recognition

Judge Zulfa’s achievements have been recognized by his alma mater and the community. In 2025 it was announced that he would be inducted into the California State University, Bakersfield Alumni Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. This honor celebrates his career in public service and contributions to the legal profession. He remains active in the Bakersfield legal community and is known as a lifelong Kern County resident.