Judge Sally Ackerknecht

Education and Early Career

Sally Ackerknecht earned her Juris Doctor at California Western School of Law in San Diego (graduating in 2009). After law school she briefly entered private practice before transitioning into public service.

Legal Career

  • Associate Attorney, Law Offices of Stephen G. Cline (2011) – Began her legal practice in private civil law.
  • Deputy Public Defender, Tulare County (2011–2018) – Spent seven years defending indigent clients in criminal cases, gaining extensive trial experience.
  • Child Support Attorney, Kern County Dept. of Child Support Services (2018–2023) – Represented the county in family law matters, enforcing child support orders and working in the civil courtroom.
  • Court Attorney, Kern County Superior Court (Jan–Jun 2023) – Served as a research and calendar attorney for judges. In this role she also sat as a temporary (pro tem) judge in family, civil, criminal and traffic court proceedings.
  • Court Commissioner, Kern County Superior Court (Jun 2023–Sep 2025) – Appointed in June 2023, she presided over arraignments and preliminary hearings across a range of case types (criminal, civil, family, traffic) with the authority of a judicial officer.

Judicial Appointment

In September 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Sally Ackerknecht to be a judge of the Kern County Superior Court. The announcement (Sept. 18, 2025) noted that she fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael G. Bush. The appointment was made without need for confirmation by the legislature. Ackerknecht, a registered non-partisan, is now officially a Superior Court judge; she will stand for retention in the next judicial election (expected in 2026) to continue her term.

Court Assignments

  • Department 16 – Criminal Arraignments (Bakersfield): Judge Ackerknecht’s primary assignment is handling misdemeanor and felony arraignments and pretrial matters in the main courthouse.
  • Shafter Branch Court (Department A): She also presides as the judge in the Shafter branch, hearing local cases there.

As a commissioner, Ackerknecht previously sat in various locations and handled a broad mix of calendars statewide in Kern County. In her current role she focuses on the felony and misdemeanor criminal calendars listed above.

Notable Cases and Decisions

  • In a 2024 homicide case (a shooting that left multiple victims), Commissioner Ackerknecht held a 19-year-old defendant without bail at arraignment. She observed that the severity of the charges made the case eligible for the death penalty, and she set strict bail accordingly.
  • She set $275,000 bail in a 2024 case where a man was charged with prostituting a minor and engaging in sex with the child. In that proceeding she also issued a criminal protective order for the alleged victim.
  • In contrast, she has occasionally released defendants at arraignment when warranted. For example, she ordered a suspect released without bail after noting he was unemployed and could not afford bail. (This reflected her discretion to consider a defendant’s ability to pay when making pretrial release decisions.)

At this point Ackerknecht’s judicial decisions have largely been on such arraignment and preliminary matters. There are no published appellate opinions under her name, as she only took the bench in late 2025.

Judicial Philosophy and Reputation

Judge Ackerknecht has not publicly articulated a specific judicial philosophy. However, observers note that her background—spanning public defense, child support litigation, and court administration—gives her a balanced perspective on both criminal and family law issues. News coverage of her appointment highlighted her “expertise in complex cases,” reflecting a reputation for handling difficult legal matters thoughtfully. Colleagues and court personnel describe her as thorough, pragmatic, and fair-minded. She is known for carefully analyzing facts in the courtroom and for treating parties with respect.

Ethics and Professional Conduct

  • No discipline or ethics violations have been reported in Judge Ackerknecht’s record. She has maintained a clean professional record throughout her career. (No public complaints or sanctions by the State Bar or judicial oversight bodies appear in available records.)
  • She remains in good standing as a California attorney and judge, with no known issues affecting her impartiality or conduct.

Community Involvement and Outreach

Specific community or outreach activities by Judge Ackerknecht are not documented in public sources. She is listed as a member of California Women Judges (CWJ), the statewide association of female jurists, indicating her engagement with professional judicial networks. More broadly, her career has been dedicated to public service roles—defending indigent clients and enforcing child support—which suggests a commitment to serving the local community. In her role as judge, she is expected to participate in civic and legal education events (such as speaking to schools or bar groups), as is customary for judges, though no particular events have been publicized. Her known involvement is primarily within the legal community through bar and judicial associations rather than overtly public outreach programs.