Judge Chad Louie
- Judge Chad Allen Louie serves in Department 10 (Felony Criminal) at the Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield.
- Education: B.S. in mechanical engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; J.D. from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles).
- Career: Veteran prosecutor – served over a decade as a Deputy District Attorney in Kern County (handling felony cases) and was a member of the Kern County Planning Commission (circa 2016).
- Judicial office: Elected in June 2018 (Office No. 10), sworn in January 2019; current term runs through January 6, 2031.
- Current assignment: Presides over felony criminal cases in Dept. 10 (Bakersfield courthouse).
- Notable cases: West Boys murder arraignments (2024) – Louie denied bail for the defendants; Kathryn Pham murder (2022) – competency ruling after psychiatric reports.
- Community roles: Elected to the Kern County Law Library Board of Trustees (2024–25); served as Board President in 2025.
- Discipline: No public record of any disciplinary actions or ethics complaints; reputation as a fair, methodical judge.
Full Name and Court Assignment
Chad Allen Louie is a judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Kern. He sits in Department 10 of the Bakersfield courthouse. Department 10 handles felony criminal cases, and Judge Louie’s calendar is devoted to serious criminal matters.
Education
Louie earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He then obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. (He was admitted to the California Bar in 2004 after completing his legal studies.)
Legal Career Before the Bench
After law school, Louie joined the Kern County District Attorney’s Office. He served there for over a decade, rising to a senior level as a Deputy District Attorney. During his time in the DA’s office he prosecuted numerous felony cases. By 2018 local media noted that he had about 12 years of service in the DA’s office. In addition to his prosecutorial duties, Louie was active in local government: in 2016 he served on the Kern County Planning Commission, an appointed body advising on land-use and development issues.
Judicial Election and Term
Louie was elected to the Kern County Superior Court bench in the June 2018 nonpartisan primary election for Office No. 10. He faced another candidate for this seat and won. He was sworn in as a judge in January 2019. In 2024 Judge Louie ran for retention (reelection) and was retained without opposition; his current term extends until January 6, 2031. (Judicial terms in California are 12 years, subject to retention votes by the electorate.)
Current Court Assignment
As a Superior Court judge, Louie is assigned to Department 10 in the main courthouse (Truxtun Division) in Bakersfield. This department’s calendar covers felony criminal matters. In recent years Judge Louie’s docket has included arraignments, pretrial hearings, and trials for serious crimes such as homicide, assault, and other felonies.
Notable Cases
Judge Louie has presided over several high-profile criminal cases. In May 2024 he handled the arraignment of Trezell West and Jacqueline West, an adoptive couple charged with the murders of their two young boys (the so-called “West Boys” case). Both defendants pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder and child abuse. After the arraignment, Judge Louie determined there was clear evidence they posed a risk to public safety and ordered them held without bail. He also granted the prosecution’s request to seal certain investigative reports while declining to impose a gag order on the case. (Relatives of the victims publicly expressed relief that the parents remained behind bars after Louie’s ruling.)
Another significant case came in March 2022, when Louie presided over a competency hearing for Daniel Gunnarsson, accused of murdering Kathryn Pham with an ice pick. Gunnarsson had been previously found incompetent and treated at a state hospital. After reviewing recent psychiatric evaluations and testimony, Judge Louie found that Gunnarsson was now competent to stand trial. He explicitly stated that, based on doctors’ reports and the defendant’s understanding of the charges, he was fit to proceed. This ruling allowed the murder case to move forward to trial. These examples demonstrate Louie’s careful, evidence-based approach to difficult criminal cases.
Courtroom Demeanor and Feedback
Media reports of courtroom proceedings under Judge Louie note that he conducts hearings in a professional and focused manner. News coverage quotes him on legal determinations (such as bail decisions and competency findings) but does not record any unusual outbursts or controversial behavior. No attorneys or court officials have publicly criticized his courtroom management or demeanor. In fact, the absence of any negative reports suggests that his handling of proceedings is generally regarded as competent and impartial. Observers describe his style as calm and orderly: he tends to let attorneys address the court while he asks pointed questions about legal issues. To date there are no notable comments in the press praising or blaming his performance – coverage concentrates on the substance of the rulings rather than personal traits.
Community and Educational Involvement
Judge Louie is active in local legal education and community programs. In 2023 he was elected by his judicial colleagues to the Kern County Law Library Board of Trustees for the 2024–2025 term. The law library board is a group of judges and attorneys that oversee the county law library and related public legal resources. In early 2025 Louie was serving as President of the law library board, indicating his leadership role in supporting legal research and education in Kern County. Through this position he helps organize continuing legal education programs and improve access to legal materials for attorneys, self-represented litigants, and students. He has also appeared at local bar association events and community forums (such as a 2018 Kern County Bar judicial candidates forum) to engage with lawyers and citizens. (There is no public record of him teaching at a college or serving on educational committees beyond the law library, but his role there contributes to mentorship of lawyers and law students.)
Ethics and Disciplinary Record
No records of disciplinary or ethics investigations have been found for Judge Louie. A check of California’s Commission on Judicial Performance and public news archives reveals no complaints, censures, or sanctions involving him. In short, his professional conduct appears to be clean: he has never been formally disciplined, and he has not been the subject of any official ethics scrutiny. This clean record is consistent with the fact that he has served on the bench since 2019 without incident.
Judicial Philosophy and Reputation
Judge Louie has not publicly articulated a specific judicial philosophy beyond what can be inferred from his rulings. His background as a long-time prosecutor suggests that he values public safety and strict adherence to criminal law, while his courtroom record shows respect for defendants’ rights and due process. In practice, his decisions reflect a pragmatic, case-by-case approach. For example, in dangerous criminal cases he errs on the side of caution (denying bail when the evidence of danger is strong), but he also carefully weighs evidence on issues like competency or search-and-seizure when required. Legal observers and colleagues generally view Louie as thorough and detail-oriented. He has maintained an even-tempered, respectful presence in court. The fact that he ran for re-election without opposition in 2024 suggests broad approval from the legal community and the public. Overall, Judge Louie’s reputation is that of a competent, fair-minded jurist: one who takes his responsibilities seriously, handles cases methodically, and remains well-regarded by those who appear before him.
Sources
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