Thomas DeSantos

Authored People v. Chang, affirming that a delusion without an objective factual correlate did not require an imperfect-self-defense instruction.

March 27, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026

Handled criminal cases from arraignment through trial and sentencing in a general trial department.

January 1, 2008Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Presided over domestic-violence cases in the Lemoore court.

January 1, 2005Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Handled criminal arraignments, pretrial proceedings, preliminary hearings, and sentencing in Hanford.

October 24, 2003Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Presided over prison-crime and regular criminal calendars in Avenal and Corcoran.

October 24, 2003Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Practiced criminal law in Hanford.

January 1, 1981Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Authored Stallion Springs Medical Services v. Superior Court, holding a private medical staffing company did not owe a common-law fair-procedure hearing.

September 2, 2026Opposes Civil Rights

Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026

Presided over juvenile-dependency cases in the Lemoore court.

January 1, 2005Supports Civil Rights

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Served as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

September 13, 2026

Source: voterguide.sos.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Was confirmed as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

July 26, 2018

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Filled the appellate vacancy created by Justice Gene M. Gomes's death.

June 27, 2018

Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Was appointed as an associate justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

June 27, 2018

Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Was appointed to the Kings County Superior Court.

October 24, 2003

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Served on the Judicial Council's Access and Fairness Advisory Committee.

November 1, 2011Favorable on Impartiality

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Sat by assignment on the California Supreme Court in Fox Paine v. Twin City Fire Insurance and joined the unanimous opinion allowing excess-insurance claims before underlying policies were exhausted.

July 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026

Served on the Judicial Council's Appellate Advisory Committee.

September 15, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Authored J.H. Boyd Enterprises v. Boyd, applying a real-property loan agreement's California-law exception to arbitration.

August 23, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026

Served on the Judicial Council's Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee.

July 11, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Served on the Judicial Council's Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee.

January 1, 2013Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Helped design and develop the consolidated Kings County Superior Court courthouse.

January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Served as presiding judge of the Kings County Superior Court.

January 1, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Served as assistant presiding judge of the Kings County Superior Court.

January 1, 2011Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Handled unlimited civil cases from law-and-motion proceedings through trial and posttrial matters.

January 1, 2008Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Presided over family-law cases in the Lemoore court.

January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Presided over conservatorship cases in the Lemoore court.

January 1, 2005Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Handled limited civil cases in the Hanford court.

October 24, 2003Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Began practicing law as a sole practitioner.

January 1, 1994Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Expanded his practice into governmental law.

January 1, 1984Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Expanded his practice into family law.

January 1, 1984Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Joined Farley, Rynda and DeSantos in private practice.

January 1, 1984Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Expanded his practice into juvenile law.

January 1, 1984Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026

Began private practice with Kahn, Soares and Conway.

January 1, 1981Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026