Judge Marcos R. Camacho

Educational Background: Completed California’s Law Office Study Program (legal apprenticeship) in 1986 instead of attending a traditional law school (became a licensed attorney without a J.D.).
Year of Judicial Appointment: 2014
Appointing Governor: Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown Jr.
Legal Experience Before Judgeship: Over 25 years as an attorney, including serving as General Counsel for the United Farm Workers (1990–2009) and running a private law practice in Bakersfield.
Years of Judicial Service: 2015–present (approximately 10 years on the bench)
Election/Retention History: Ran unopposed in 2016 and 2022, thereby automatically retaining his seat; currently serving a term that extends to January 2029.
Court Division/Specialization: Assigned to the Shafter branch of the Kern County Superior Court, handling a broad trial caseload and designated to hear environmental cases under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
Leadership/Committee Roles: No major administrative positions (such as Presiding Judge) to date, but actively involved in mentorship and diversity outreach within the legal community.

Education and Early Legal Career

Marcos R. Camacho was born and raised in Dinuba, a farming community in California’s Central Valley (Tulare County). As the eldest of four children in a family of migrant farmworkers, he spent his summers working in the fields alongside his parents, Rodrigo and Eusebia. His parents placed a strong emphasis on education; each fall they insisted the children return to school on time, despite the economic pull of farm labor. Camacho’s upbringing amid the hardships and injustices faced by farm laborers instilled in him a desire to advocate for his community and ultimately fueled his ambition to become a lawyer.

Forgoing the traditional college-to-law-school route, Camacho pursued an alternative path into the legal profession. He enrolled in the California State Bar’s Law Office Study Program – an apprenticeship-based method of legal education that allows one to “read law” under a mentor instead of attending law school. Through the 1980s, he apprenticed with experienced attorneys as part of the United Farm Workers (UFW) Legal Apprenticeship Program. This hands-on training involved extensive self-study and practical legal work, much like the way many early American lawyers (including Abraham Lincoln) learned the law. Camacho’s dedication paid off when he passed the California Bar Examination on his first attempt in 1986, formally becoming a licensed attorney without having earned a formal J.D. degree.

After gaining admission to the bar, Camacho launched his legal career in Bakersfield. He joined the firm of Lyons, Macri-Ortiz, Schneider, Dunphy & Camacho, where he practiced as an associate attorney from 1987 to 1989. In 1990, at age 31, he was appointed as General Counsel of the United Farm Workers of America. In this prominent role, Camacho served as the chief lawyer for the UFW – the labor union founded by civil rights icons Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta – for nearly two decades. From 1990 until 2009, he handled the union’s legal affairs, which included negotiating labor contracts, litigating on behalf of farmworkers’ rights, and providing counsel on legislative and policy issues affecting agricultural labor. During this time he also maintained a private practice (the Law Office of Marcos R. Camacho, established 1990) in Bakersfield, through which he represented clients in a variety of matters. By the time he transitioned to the judiciary, Camacho had built a reputation as an experienced advocate for working-class and immigrant communities in the Central Valley.

Judicial Appointment and Service

In late 2014, Marcos Camacho’s career took a turn toward public service on the bench when Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the Kern County Superior Court. The appointment was officially announced on December 24, 2014, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jerold L. Turner. Camacho described the call from the Governor on that Christmas Eve as a complete surprise and a tremendous honor. At 55 years old and with decades of legal practice under his belt, he was well-prepared to assume judicial responsibilities. He was sworn in and began his tenure as a Superior Court Judge in early 2015, bringing his unique background as a former farmworker-turned-lawyer to the judiciary.

Since taking the bench, Judge Camacho has served the Kern County Superior Court for over ten years. As is customary for California’s trial court judges, he initially served under the gubernatorial appointment and then stood for public election to retain the seat. In 2016, he ran for his judgeship (designated as Office #8 in Kern County) and drew no challengers; as a result, his name did not appear on the ballot and he was automatically elected to a full six-year term. Similarly, in the 2022 election cycle, Camacho was again unopposed, resulting in automatic retention for another term. These uncontested elections indicate that he enjoys respect and confidence in the community, allowing him to continue serving without the uncertainty of a contested race. His current term will run through January 2029.

During his judicial service, Camacho has been assigned to the Superior Court’s branch in Shafter, a city in Kern County. In this assignment, he oversees a broad array of cases typical for a trial court judge, ranging from criminal proceedings and civil disputes to family and probate matters as needed. Notably, Judge Camacho has been designated to handle cases involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the county – meaning he is often the judge hearing environmental and land-use cases (such as challenges to development projects or other environmental impact disputes). Serving in the Shafter division, which is a more rural venue, he frequently handles matters that arise out of the county’s smaller communities and agricultural areas, in addition to the general caseload. Through these roles, Camacho has developed a wide-ranging judicial experience across both criminal and civil law.

Notable Cases and Legal Commentary

Throughout his time on the bench, Judge Camacho has presided over numerous cases, though he has not been widely cited in the media for any singular high-profile trial. In the course of his duties at the Shafter branch, he has handled everything from serious felony criminal cases to complex civil litigation. His role as the CEQA judge for Kern County means he has adjudicated environmental disputes that can have significant local impact (for example, cases involving industrial projects, water resources, or agricultural land use). While these environmental cases are often technical and low-profile outside legal circles, they underscore Camacho’s ability to navigate complicated statutory law and balance competing community interests. Attorneys who have appeared in his courtroom note his practical and down-to-earth judicial demeanor, likely a reflection of his real-world experience prior to taking the bench.

Prior to becoming a judge, Camacho was involved in significant legal matters through his work with the UFW and his private practice, and those experiences continue to inform his perspective. As general counsel for the UFW, he played a part in landmark farmworker labor negotiations and advocacy cases in the 1990s and 2000s, though those were more often resolved at the negotiating table or through regulatory channels than in published court opinions. This history gives Camacho an understanding of the broader social context behind legal disputes, especially those involving labor and employment issues. In legal commentary, his unique background has occasionally been highlighted as an example of alternative pathways in the legal profession. For instance, California legal circles and media have pointed to Camacho’s success as a lawyer and judge without a law school degree as evidence that the apprenticeship route can produce highly capable attorneys and even members of the judiciary. His story has been cited in discussions about diversifying both the pipeline to law practice and the makeup of the bench, given that he came from a humble farmworker background and rose to become a judge.

Judicial Philosophy and Reputation

Judge Marcos R. Camacho’s judicial philosophy appears to be grounded in fairness, empathy, and a respect for the rule of law. Coming from a background of advocating for farmworkers and marginalized communities, he carries into the courtroom an understanding of how legal decisions affect ordinary people. Colleagues describe him as even-keeled and impartial, noting that he gives careful consideration to the arguments of both sides in a case. He is not an ideologue on the bench; although he was appointed by a Democratic governor and has a history in labor advocacy, in his role as judge he is committed to applying the law objectively. Camacho’s decisions reflect a pragmatism and attention to detail, and he is known for being thorough in his fact-finding and legal analysis during trials.

His reputation in the legal community is that of a hardworking and accessible judge. Lawyers who practice in Kern County have remarked on Camacho’s approachable demeanor—despite his distinguished career, he remains humble and relates well to people from all walks of life. This trait no doubt stems from his own life experience of working his way up from the fields to the courtroom. He values clarity and justice over formalism, ensuring that litigants understand the proceedings and that outcomes are grounded in sound reasoning. Overall, Camacho is seen as a judge who embodies public service, bringing integrity and a community-oriented perspective to his decisions.

Community Engagement and Professional Leadership

Outside of his official judicial duties, Judge Camacho is actively engaged in community and professional activities. He has frequently shared his personal journey — from a farmworking youth to a member of the judiciary — as an inspirational story for students and young lawyers. Camacho participates in mentorship programs aimed at encouraging aspiring attorneys, particularly those from underrepresented communities. For example, he has been involved in outreach events with local schools and college pre-law societies in Kern County, where he talks about overcoming challenges and the value of perseverance in education. By being visible and approachable, he helps demystify the legal profession and the justice system for community members.

Within the legal community, Judge Camacho contributes to efforts that promote diversity and inclusion in the courts. He is a member of various bar associations and often collaborates with colleagues on initiatives to broaden access to legal careers. While he has not held a formal administrative post such as Presiding Judge of the county (as of this writing), he has shown leadership through service on committees and working groups focused on court improvement and mentorship. His involvement with the Judicial Council’s mentor programs (designed to help guide attorneys seeking judicial appointments) is one example of how he gives back to the profession. In addition, Camacho’s long tenure as a lawyer and judge with deep roots in the Central Valley community positions him as a bridge between the court and the public. He remains committed to civic engagement, whether it’s by volunteering his time for charity events, speaking at cultural and civic gatherings, or simply being a role model. Judge Camacho’s career and community presence reflect a dedication not only to the law, but also to uplifting others and ensuring the justice system is accessible and representative.