Kern County Superior Court

Last updated
Kern County Superior Court
Established1866
Jurisdiction Kern County, California
Location
Appeals to California Court of Appeal for the Fifth District
Website kern.courts.ca.gov
Presiding Judge
CurrentlyHon. Eric Bradshaw [1]
Assistant Presiding Judge
CurrentlyHon. Colette Humphrey [1]
Court Executive Officer
CurrentlyTamarah Harber-Pickens [2]

The Superior Court of California, County of Kern, also known as the Kern County Superior Court or Kern Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Kern County.

Contents

History

Kern County was partitioned from Tulare, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in 1866, [3] following a failed effort to establish Buena Vista County which started in 1855. [4]

The initial county seat was set in Havilah, and the governor appointed Theron Reed as the county judge. At their first two meetings, held August 1–2, 1866, the county board of supervisors purchased a site for the courthouse for $800 and let a contract to T.H. Binnex, who built a wooden structure for $2200. The Havilah courthouse served the county until 1874, when the county seat was moved to Bakersfield; at that point, the original courthouse was dismantled and the lumber was sold to P.T. Colby, who reassembled it on Chester Avenue in Bakersfield as a house. [5] : 61–62 

Although Bakersfield failed to win the county seat in the election of February 15, 1873, it prevailed in another election held on January 26, 1874. Following state authorization of a bond for $25,000 to build a new courthouse and jail, George B. Chester donated the block of land southwest of the intersection of Truxtun and Chester on September 1, 1874, and A.W. Burrell was awarded the construction contract for $29,999 on October 5. The new courthouse was accepted by the supervisors on April 3, 1876. [6] : 73–75  The architect for the 1876 courthouse was Albert A. Bennett. [7] An addition to the courthouse was authorized on May 13, 1889 [8] : 96  [9] : 111  and completed on June 11, 1896. [10] : 124  The architects for the 1896 addition were Charles & Barnett McDougall. [7]

Kern County Courthouse, Bakersfield, California (completed 1912) Kern County Courthouse (1912).jpg
Kern County Courthouse, Bakersfield, California (completed 1912)

A new court house was approved by voters on September 14, 1909, and construction began in July 1910; the construction contract was awarded to Frederick J. Amweg for $340,827. The new courthouse, completed in 1912, was built east across Chester from the 1896 courthouse, between Truxtun and Fifteenth; the 1896 courthouse was sold to the city of Bakersfield on July 9, 1913, to serve as its city hall. [11] : 155–156  The 1912 courthouse was designed by Frederick Meyers. [7] Both the 1896 and 1912 courthouses were damaged by the 1952 Kern County earthquake and eventually torn down. [12]

The Kern County courthouse (1415 Truxtun) that replaced the 1912 building was completed in 1959 to a design by Ernest L McCoy; although it is still standing and a few cases are still tried there, the County Justice Building, completed in 1980 one block east at 1215 Truxtun, has largely replaced the 1959 courthouse. [13]

Venues

Kern County Superior Court
[Interactive fullscreen map + nearby articles]
Kern County Superior Court locations:
1
2100 College Ave (Juvenile, Bakersfield)
2
1215 & 1415 Truxtun Ave (Metro, Bakersfield)
 1661 L St (Jury Services, Bakersfield)
3
3131 Arrow St (Traffic, Bakersfield)
4
5555 California Ave, Ste 100 (Revenue, Bakersfield)
5
1122 Jefferson St (Delano)
6
7046 Lake Isabella Blvd (Kern River / Lake Isabella)
7
12022 Main St (Lamont)
8
1773 State Hwy 58 Bus (Mojave)
9
132 E Coso Ave (Ridgecrest)
10
325 Central Valley Hwy (Shafter)
11
311 Lincoln St (Taft)

Bakersfield, the county seat, includes the main court buildings; there are seven satellite locations around the county.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakersfield, California</span> City in California, United States

Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. Bakersfield is the largest city and county seat of Kern County. The city covers about 151 sq mi (390 km2) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region.

The Bakersfield Californian is a daily newspaper serving Bakersfield, California and surrounding Kern County in the state's San Joaquin Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles A. Barlow</span> American businessman and politician

Charles Averill Barlow was an American farmer, businessman and politician. He was most notable for his service as a member of the California State Assembly and a member of the U.S. representative from California's 6th congressional district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havilah, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Havilah is an unincorporated community in Kern County, California. It is located in the mountains between Walker Basin and the Kern River Valley, 5 miles (8.0 km) south-southwest of Bodfish at an elevation of 3,136 feet (956 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scovern Hot Springs</span> Former settlement in California, United States

Scovern Hot Springs is a thermal spring system, and former settlement in the Kern River Valley of the Southern Sierra Nevada, in Kern County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canebrake Ecological Reserve</span> Ecological reserve in the South Fork Valley of Kern County, California

Canebrake Ecological Reserve is a 6,700-acre (27 km2) nature reserve in the South Fork Valley of Kern County, 20 miles (32 km) east of Lake Isabella, California. It is located in the Southern Sierra Nevada region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Bakersfield</span> Place in California, United States

Downtown is the central business district for Bakersfield, California. It contains several of the city's major theaters, sports complex, museums, and historical landmarks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beale Memorial Clock Tower</span> Historic site in Bakersfield, California

Beale Memorial Clock Tower is a clock tower located in Bakersfield, California. It was a gift to the city, built by Truxtun Beale in memory of his mother, Mary Edwards Beale, the wife of Edward Fitzgerald Beale. The original clock tower was built in the middle of the intersection of 17th Street and Chester Avenue, and was dedicated on April 4, 1904. The tower was designed by architect Clinton Day, while the clock itself was installed by Frank H. McConnell. The design was inspired by a clock tower that Truxtun Beale has seen while he was the U.S. ambassador to Spain.

The Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway was a streetcar company which operated between Bakersfield and Sumner, in California. Later, after Kern City was annexed by Bakersfield, the streetcar company operated completely in Bakersfield. The company was originally formed in 1887, under the name Bakersfield and Sumner Railroad. At its height, in 1915, the company operated five streetcar lines, totaling 10.5 miles (16.9 km). It also operated three feeder bus lines, one of the first companies in the nation to offer that type of service. Also, with the exception of one-way sections, the entire system was double tracked.

Andrew Henry Denker was a German-born American businessman and politician was a business partner of Henry Hammel. He and Hammel, his brother-in-law, ran hotels and owned an extensive spread of agricultural property that eventually became the city of Beverly Hills, California.

The Superior Court of California, County of Ventura County, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Ventura County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresno County Superior Court</span> Branch of California superior court with jurisdiction over Fresno Country

The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, also known as the Fresno County Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Fresno County.

The Superior Court of California, County of Tulare, also known as the Tulare County Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Tulare County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz County Superior Court</span> Branch of California superior court with jurisdiction over Santa Cruz County

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Santa Cruz County. It occupies two courthouses, one in Santa Cruz on Ocean Street and one in Watsonville on Second Street.

The Superior Court of California, County of Kings, also known as the Kings County Superior Court or Kings Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Kings County.

The Superior Court of California, County of Lake, also known as the Lake County Superior Court or Lake Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Lake County.

The Superior Court of California, County of Merced, also known as the Merced County Superior Court or Merced Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Merced County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey County Superior Court</span> Branch of California superior court with jurisdiction over Monterey County

The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey, also known as the Monterey County Superior Court or Monterey Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over Monterey County.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin, also known as the San Joaquin County Superior Court or San Joaquin Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over San Joaquin County.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, also known as the San Bernardino County Superior Court or San Bernardino Superior Court, is the branch of the California superior court with jurisdiction over San Bernardino County.

References

  1. 1 2 "Judicial Officers List". Superior Court of California, County of Kern. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Presiding Judge Judith K. Dulcich and Court Executive Officer Tamarah Harber-Pickens announce innovations in court operations" (Press release). Superior Court of California, County of Kern. April 28, 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  3. ↑ California State Assembly. "An Act to create the County of Kern, to define its boundaries, and to provide for its organization". Sixteenth Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. DLXIX p. 796. direct URL
  4. ↑ California State Assembly. "An Act to Organize the County of Buena Vista". Sixth Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. CLXI p. 203. direct URL
  5. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "VI: Organization of the County". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 61–65. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "VIII: Bakersfield Becomes the County Metropolis". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 72–79. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Kern County, California". Courthouse History. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  8. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "X: A Collection of Disconnected Stories". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 89–97. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "XII: First Attempt at Colonization". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 110–116. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "XIII: Important Events of a Decade, 1890-1900". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 117–125. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ↑ Morgan, Wallace M. (1914). "XV: Progress of the County from 1900 to 1913". History of Kern County, California. Los Angeles: Historic Record Company. pp. 148–172. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Kern County". California Supreme Court Historical Society. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Deacon, John (2015). "Kern County". American Courthouses. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.