Judge Wendy L. Avila

Education: Earned her B.A. in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Judicial Appointment: Appointed to the Kern County Superior Court in December 2020 by Governor Gavin Newsom, filling the vacancy left by retiring Judge Steven M. Katz.
Legal Experience: Over 20 years of legal experience prior to becoming a judge, including 18 years as a Deputy District Attorney in the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. Also served as a Senior Assistant Inspector General for California (2017–2020) and as an adjunct law lecturer at CSU Bakersfield (2008–2016).
Judicial Tenure: Nearly 5 years of judicial service since taking the bench in 2020. Won election in 2022 unopposed, securing a full term that runs through January 2029.
Court Assignment: Currently assigned to Juvenile Court (Juvenile Justice Center in Bakersfield), handling juvenile delinquency and dependency cases – including presiding over adoption proceedings.
Historic Role: Broke barriers as the first Latina to serve as a judge on the Kern County Superior Court in its history.
Leadership & Community Involvement: Co-founder of Latina Leaders of Kern County, a nonprofit fostering leadership among young Latinas. Pioneered Kern County’s first truancy-reduction program as a prosecutor, inspired by her late brother’s story. Frequently mentors youth and speaks on pursuing education and law.

Education and Early Legal Career

Wendy Laura Avila is a Bakersfield native who was the first in her family to pursue higher education. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English, and went on to obtain her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. After law school, Avila returned to Kern County to begin her legal career. She started in the Child Support Services division of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office (as a Family Support Officer) before becoming a Deputy District Attorney in 1999. In the DA’s office, Avila handled a range of criminal prosecutions, including gang-related and prison cases, over an 18-year span. During this time, she also contributed to legal education as an adjunct lecturer at California State University, Bakersfield between 2008 and 2016, sharing her expertise with students. Avila’s early life experiences – she was adopted as an infant and tragically lost her older brother to murder – instilled in her a passion for justice and youth advocacy, shaping her approach to her legal career.

Judicial Appointment and Service

In December 2020, Wendy Avila was appointed to the Superior Court of California, County of Kern by Governor Gavin Newsom. At the time of her appointment, she brought over two decades of legal experience to the bench, having served in roles ranging from prosecutor to state inspector general. Avila’s appointment made history, as she became the first Latina judge ever to serve on the Kern County Superior Court. She assumed office in late 2020 and initially filled the vacancy created by Judge Steven M. Katz’s retirement. In her first couple of years on the bench, Judge Avila was assigned to the court’s Delano division, handling a general calendar of cases including criminal matters in a rural region of the county. By 2022, she transitioned to the Juvenile Justice Center in Bakersfield, where she now presides over juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. Avila has expressed that working in Juvenile Court is especially meaningful to her, as it allows her to oversee adoption proceedings – a process that resonates deeply because of her own background as an adoptee. In June 2022, Judge Avila stood for election to retain her seat; no challenger filed to run against her, so she was re-elected without opposition in the primary, granting her a full six-year term through January 8, 2029.

Notable Cases and Initiatives

During her tenure as a Deputy DA, Avila distinguished herself by launching Kern County’s first truancy reduction program, an initiative she created in honor of her brother’s memory. This program aimed to combat school absenteeism and intervene early with at-risk youth – reflecting Avila’s commitment to steering young people away from the school-to-prison pipeline. Since taking the bench, Judge Avila has presided over several high-profile or challenging cases in the juvenile justice system. In 2023, she oversaw the case of a 16-year-old, Emily “Evil” Reznick, who admitted to murdering her mother. Judge Avila imposed the maximum sentence under juvenile law, ordering the teen to remain in a secure youth facility until age 25. In delivering the sentence, Avila pointed out the grievous nature of the crime and the youth’s lack of remorse, underscoring the serious consequences even young offenders face for violent crimes. In another notable matter, Judge Avila ruled that a juvenile defendant accused of a serious offense could be transferred to adult criminal court, aligning with the prosecution’s motion in that case. (That transfer decision was later reviewed by higher courts as juvenile justice laws continued to evolve.) Throughout her judicial work, Avila is known for balancing firmness in upholding public safety with a perspective shaped by her belief in rehabilitation and second chances for youth. She has stated that her goal is to ensure every person who comes through her courtroom – including minors – feels heard and is treated with dignity, a philosophy rooted in her own family’s difficult experience with the justice system decades earlier.

Reputation and Community Impact

Wendy Avila’s elevation to the bench has been celebrated in the local community, not only because of the historic nature of her appointment but also due to her role as a mentor and trailblazer. As the first Latina judge in Kern County, her presence is seen as paving the way for greater diversity in the legal system. Community leaders and academics have noted that seeing someone from an underrepresented background on the bench can inspire trust and hope. Ivy Cargile, a political science professor at CSU Bakersfield, observed that representation like Judge Avila’s can help create those second chances for minority youth by fostering a sense of fairness and understanding in the justice process. Judge Avila is actively involved in the community: she co-founded the nonprofit organization Latina Leaders of Kern County, which encourages and mentors young Latinas to pursue education and leadership roles. She frequently speaks at schools, conferences, and youth events – sharing her personal story of perseverance. For instance, she once recounted to students how a young girl ran after her at a youth conference just to ask if she was really a lawyer, highlighting the importance of visibility for women of color in law. Within the courthouse, Avila is respected for her dedication and compassion. Colleagues have noted her willingness to take on complex cases and her innovative approach, such as her focus on truancy prevention and rehabilitation programs. She has also contributed to court outreach efforts like National Adoption Day, where she and fellow judges open their courtroom to finalize adoptions and celebrate new “forever families” – an event especially close to her heart as an adoptee herself. Judge Avila’s blend of professional excellence, community leadership, and personal resilience has earned her a positive reputation as a fair jurist and an inspiring figure in Kern County’s legal community.