Judge Keenan Perkins

  • Current Position: Judge, Kern County Superior Court (appointed 2024)
  • Education: B.A. in Public Administration, California State University, Bakersfield; J.D., Southwestern University School of Law (2004)
  • Prior Career: Deputy Public Defender in Kern County (2007–2011); solo law practice in Bakersfield (2012–2023); Court Commissioner (2023)
  • Judicial Appointment: Named to the Kern County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2024, filling a vacancy left by retirement
  • Court Assignments: Served as Traffic Division Court Commissioner; as judge, assigned to the Juvenile Court (dependency and delinquency cases)
  • Public Service: Member of Kern County’s Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (SB 823 subcommittee); has served as a mental-health certification review hearing officer
  • Reputation and Ethics: Known for dedication to public defense and juvenile justice; maintains an unblemished disciplinary record with no public ethics violations

Education

Keenan S. Perkins earned his Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from California State University, Bakersfield. He subsequently attended Southwestern University School of Law, where he completed his Juris Doctor in 2004.

Early Legal Career

After law school, Perkins began his career in private practice. From 2006 to 2007 he was an associate at the law firm of Thomas Anton & Associates in Bakersfield. He then joined the Kern County Public Defender’s Office as a Deputy Public Defender, serving roughly from 2007 to 2011. In that role he represented indigent clients in criminal cases, gaining experience in court trials and hearings.

Private Practice

In 2012, Perkins opened his own law practice in Bakersfield, operating as the Law Office of Keenan S. Perkins. Over the next eleven years he handled a broad range of legal matters in both civil and criminal law. His work often involved litigation and trial advocacy at the local level. During this period, he also became involved in juvenile justice matters and dependency cases, leveraging his experience as a former public defender.

Court Staff and Commissioner

In mid-2023, Perkins joined the Kern County Superior Court’s staff. On July 31, 2023 he began working as a calendar coverage and legal research attorney. Shortly thereafter, the court appointed him as a Court Commissioner. He was sworn in as a Commissioner on September 18, 2023, assigned primarily to the Traffic Division. As a Commissioner he had the authority of a judge in hearing certain cases, and he presided over traffic violations and other limited matters. He also served as a temporary judge in juvenile dependency and delinquency cases and conducted certification and capacity hearings (known as Riese hearings) under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act for Kern County Behavioral Health.

Judicial Appointment

Governor Gavin Newsom announced Perkins’s appointment to the Kern County Superior Court on December 13, 2024. This appointment filled the seat vacated by the retirement of Judge Therese Foley. Perkins was officially sworn in as a Superior Court Judge in early 2025. Under California law, he will stand for election at the next general judicial election to serve the remainder of the term for that seat.

Court Assignments

Upon joining the bench, Judge Perkins was assigned to Kern County’s Juvenile Justice Department (courtroom J-2). In this position he handles juvenile cases, including both dependency (child welfare) and delinquency matters. As a former court commissioner, he previously handled the court’s traffic calendar and certain other trial matters. His background in juvenile law from his public defender days is seen as complementary to his current assignment.

Public Service and Community Involvement

Judge Perkins is active in local juvenile justice planning and oversight. He serves as the court’s representative on the Kern County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council and is a member of its SB 823 Subcommittee, which develops plans for shifting juvenile justice responsibilities from state to county. Earlier in his career, he served under contract as a Certification Review Hearing Officer, presiding over adult and minor involuntary mental-health commitment hearings for Kern County. Throughout his legal career he has participated in community outreach on juvenile justice and criminal defense issues, contributing to educational forums and local legal organizations.

Professional Reputation and Ethics

Perkins is generally regarded as a diligent and fair-minded jurist. Colleagues note his commitment to public defense and to the welfare of youth in the justice system. Throughout his career as an attorney, commissioner, and judge, he has maintained a professional demeanor and strong work ethic. To date, he has no disciplinary history; no ethics complaints or violations have been reported against him. His judicial conduct is expected to reflect the impartiality and integrity required of the bench.