Judge Douglas “Doug” Rodgers

Education

  • B.A., University of California, Berkeley
  • J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law (2003)

Rodgers earned his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley before attending law school at the University of San Francisco, where he received his Juris Doctor in 2003. This education prepared him for his career as a prosecutor and eventually a judge.

Bar Admission

  • California State Bar, admitted 2003

He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2003 and has been licensed to practice law in California since then.

Appointment to the Bench

  • Appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom (May 2023)
  • Sworn in as Tulare County Superior Court Judge in June 2023
  • Filled the vacancy of the retiring Judge Gary Paden

In May 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced Rodgers’ appointment to the Tulare County Superior Court. After the gubernatorial nomination, he took the judicial oath in June 2023. Rodgers was selected to fill the seat vacated by Judge Gary Paden’s retirement.

Courtroom Assignment and Case Types

  • Assigned to Department 21 (South County branch: Porterville/Lindsay/Tulare)
  • Primary docket: criminal felony complaints (arraignments, preliminaries, sentencings)
  • Also serves as backup judge for overflow family law cases

Judge Rodgers currently presides in Department 21, which handles the South County felony caseload. His responsibilities include arraignments on felony complaints, preliminary hearings, sentencing hearings, and probation violation hearings for defendants in the Porterville, Lindsay, and Tulare areas. In addition to criminal cases, he serves as a support judge for family law matters when needed.

Legal and Judicial Experience Before Appointment

  • ~20 years as prosecutor in Tulare County District Attorney’s Office (2003–2023)
  • Roles held: Deputy District Attorney and Supervising Attorney

Before joining the bench, Rodgers spent two decades in the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. He served as a Deputy District Attorney and later as a Supervising Attorney, prosecuting a broad range of criminal cases on behalf of the county. His long tenure as a prosecutor gave him extensive trial experience and familiarity with the local justice system prior to his judicial appointment.

Notable Cases and Rulings

  • Prosecuted a high-profile first-degree murder case (Alexander Shinn, Farmersville) resulting in a life sentence (2022)

As a Tulare County prosecutor, Rodgers handled significant felony cases. For example, in 2022 he led the prosecution of a first-degree murder trial in Farmersville, where the defendant was convicted for killing his roommate. Since becoming a judge, he has begun presiding over felony criminal cases in his courtroom; however, any major published rulings or appellate cases from his judgeship are not yet available.

Political Affiliation

  • Registered as No Party Preference (nonpartisan)

Rodgers is not affiliated with any political party. At the time of his appointment to the bench, he was registered as having no party preference (often abbreviated NPP). This nonpartisan status is common for California trial court judges, who run in nonpartisan elections.

Community Involvement and Leadership

  • U.S. Army veteran (active duty 1996–2000)
  • No specific community or organizational leadership roles publicly documented

Before his legal career, Rodgers served in the United States Army on active duty from 1996 to 2000. Beyond his military service, publicly available information does not list any particular community leadership positions or civic roles he has held. He is primarily known for his public service as a prosecutor and now as a judge.