Arlan L. Harrell
CA · Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
Harrell is an associate justice of California's Fifth District Court of Appeal. He previously served 19 years on the Fresno Superior Court, including as presiding judge, and worked as a deputy district attorney.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 14 records
Served as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
September 13, 2026
Source: voterguide.sos.ca.gov
Joined People v. Robinson, reversing dismissal of resentencing for a person serving life without parole who lacked a qualifying sexually violent conviction.
May 8, 2026
Source: law.justia.com
Authored Myers v. Department of Motor Vehicles, affirming reversal of a license suspension after video rebutted the reliability of chemical breath tests.
April 20, 2026
Source: law.justia.com
Authored In re T.D., holding that electronic recording violated a juvenile's statutory right to a court reporter but did not require reversal without prejudice.
January 26, 2026
Source: casemine.com
Twice taught at California's judicial Domestic Violence Institute.
August 5, 2025
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
August 5, 2025
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Presided over a capital-case preliminary hearing and held the defendants to answer on the filed charges.
November 9, 2021
Source: law.justia.com
Was designated to review and supervise wiretap applications in Fresno County.
January 6, 2016
Source: govinfo.gov
Sentenced a man to two life terms after his guilty plea to sexually assaulting and attempting to kill a disabled four-year-old child.
March 18, 2011
Source: abc13.com
Was appointed as a Fresno County Superior Court judge.
May 1, 2006
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Handled traffic, misdemeanor, and felony domestic-violence calendars as a court commissioner.
December 1, 2003
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Concluded his prosecutorial service as a senior deputy district attorney.
December 1, 2003
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Began serving as a Fresno County Superior Court commissioner.
December 1, 2003
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Began serving as a Fresno County deputy district attorney.
February 1, 1994
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Ruled that a superior court judge's service as a juror did not deprive a murder defendant of a fair and impartial trial.
August 11, 2010Favorable on Impartiality
Source: abc11.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 8 favorable
Was confirmed as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
November 17, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Denied a petition seeking habeas corpus relief for three zoo elephants because they were not in state custody.
November 15, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: horvitzlevy.com
Began a two-year term as presiding judge of the Fresno County Superior Court.
January 1, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Began a two-year term as assistant presiding judge of the Fresno County Superior Court.
January 1, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Began sixteen years of service in a general trial department presiding over jury trials.
January 1, 2009Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served sixteen years on the Fresno County Superior Court Executive Committee.
January 1, 2009Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Worked as an associate at Lang, Richert & Patch on bankruptcy litigation.
January 1, 1990Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Served as a judicial extern for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard T. Ford.
January 1, 1990Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov
Past race Arlan L. Harrell ran in:
- Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Fifth District: Shall Associate Justice ARLAN L. HARRELL be elected to the office for the term provided by law? · November 3, 2026 · California · incumbent