Mark W. Snauffer
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
Snauffer is an associate justice of California's Fifth District Court of Appeal. He previously served on the Fresno County Superior Court and practiced civil litigation, including medical and legal malpractice matters.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Won confirmation from the Commission on Judicial Appointments as a Fifth District Court of Appeal associate justice.
July 26, 2018
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Governor Jerry Brown nominated him as a Fifth District Court of Appeal associate justice.
June 27, 2018
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov
Served on the Fresno Superior Court Executive Committee from 2006 through 2013 and from 2015 through 2017.
January 1, 2006
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served twice as supervising judge of the Fresno Superior Court Civil Division, from 2005 through 2007 and from 2015 through 2018.
January 1, 2005
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was appointed to the Fresno County Superior Court.
March 1, 2000
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 3 favorable
Authored Kerman Telephone v. Public Utilities Commission, annulling penalties imposed without fair notice of a disclosure requirement.
August 24, 2023Favorable on Impartiality
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Collins, conditionally reversing after finding a reasonable inference that a prosecutor's juror strike was improperly motivated.
February 2, 2021Favorable on Impartiality
Source: law.justia.com
Chaired the Fresno Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee from 2005 through 2018.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Impartiality
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 27 favorable
Joined People v. Castillo, preserving supported noneconomic restitution awards to sexual-abuse victims and vacating one unsupported award.
September 1, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Southwest Jet Fuel v. Department of Tax and Fee Administration, upholding full local sales taxation of jet-fuel sales.
September 19, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Kruitbosch v. Bakersfield Recovery Services, reviving hostile-work-environment and failure-to-prevent sexual-harassment claims.
September 9, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Union Pacific Railroad v. Superior Court, granting summary judgment to the railroad in a roadside-tree negligence case.
October 7, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition v. Air Resources Board, upholding zero-emission truck regulations against environmental and administrative-law challenges.
September 24, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored TRC Operating v. Shabazian, upholding oil-well safety regulations and remanding for review of their application.
March 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Kerman Telephone v. Public Utilities Commission, annulling penalties imposed without fair notice of a disclosure requirement.
August 24, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Pabla v. Superior Court, ordering a trial within the statutory 120-day period for an elderly litigant granted preference.
April 13, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Joined Johnson v. Little Rock Ranch, affirming an equitable remedy and permanent-trespass damages for an encroachment.
January 4, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Nieto, rejecting a jury instruction that treated deception alone as sufficient physical force for kidnapping.
March 18, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Collins, conditionally reversing after finding a reasonable inference that a prosecutor's juror strike was improperly motivated.
February 2, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Son, requiring an opportunity for an ability-to-pay hearing on court assessments while otherwise affirming the judgment.
May 27, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Authored People v. Botello, vacating juvenile life-without-parole sentences and requiring a new sentencing hearing under Eighth Amendment standards.
February 26, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com
Won confirmation from the Commission on Judicial Appointments as a Fifth District Court of Appeal associate justice.
July 26, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served on the Fresno Superior Court Executive Committee from 2006 through 2013 and from 2015 through 2017.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Handled a criminal calendar, felony trials, and appellate-division work on the Fresno Superior Court.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served twice as supervising judge of the Fresno Superior Court Civil Division, from 2005 through 2007 and from 2015 through 2018.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Chaired the Fresno Superior Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee from 2005 through 2018.
January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Taught Civil Trial Practice as an adjunct professor at San Joaquin College of Law from 2003 through 2007.
January 1, 2003Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served on the Center for Judicial Education and Research Civil Law Education Committee from 2002 through 2008 and chaired it in 2005 and 2006.
January 1, 2002Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was appointed to the Fresno County Superior Court.
March 1, 2000Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Joined the American Board of Trial Advocates.
January 1, 1992Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Joined Baker, Manock and Jensen in 1982 and later became a shareholder.
January 1, 1982Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Specialized in medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability, and business litigation.
January 1, 1982Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Practiced at Hefner, Stark and Marois from 1980 through 1982.
January 1, 1980Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Practiced at McCormick Barstow from 1977 through 1980.
January 1, 1977Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was admitted to the California Bar and began practicing law at McCormick Barstow.
January 1, 1977Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Authored Kerman Telephone v. Public Utilities Commission, annulling penalties imposed without fair notice of a disclosure requirement.
August 24, 2023
Source: law.justia.com
Past race Mark W. Snauffer ran in:
- Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Fifth District: Shall Associate Justice MARK W. SNAUFFER be elected to the office for the term provided by law? · November 3, 2026 · California · incumbent