For reprint rights or to purchase a copy of your Daily Journal photo, email Jeremy_Ellis@dailyjournal.com for prices or call 213-229-5424.

To buy more copies, call 866-531-1492 or email subscribe@dailyjournal.com
This is the property of the Daily Journal Corporation and fully protected by copyright. It is made available only to Daily Journal subscribers for personal or collaborative purposes and may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, stored or transferred without written permission. Please click "Reprint" to order presentation-ready copies to distribute to clients or use in commercial marketing materials or for permission to post on a website. and copyright (showing year of publication) at the bottom.
Subscribe to the Daily Journal for access to Daily Appellate Reports, Verdicts, Judicial Profiles and more...

Sep. 18, 2025

From public defender to family law: Judge Kelly Babineau finds her place on the Nevada County bench

Nevada County Superior Court Judge Kelly Babineau, the first in her family to attend college, built her career as a public defender before moving into family law. Colleagues praise her work ethic, adaptability, and commitment to giving every case the attention it deserves.

Read more about Kelly Babineau...
From public defender to family law: Judge Kelly Babineau finds her place on the Nevada County bench

Kelly Babineau

Nevada County Superior Court

Career Highlights: Appointed Nevada County Superior Court judge by Gov. Gavin Newsom, 2023; sole practitioner, Sacramento, 2009-23; contract attorney, California Central Appellate Project, 2005-15; assistant public defender, Sacramento County, 1997-2000, 2002-09; associate, Rothschild, Wishek & Sands, 2000-02

Law School: McGeorge School of Law, 1997
See more...

Kelly Babineau knows what it's like to feel like an outsider.

"I grew up in this area that was economically depressed, but I was really fortunate," said the Nevada County Superior Court judge. "My parents really emphasized education. I'm the first Babineau to go to college."

Babineau's family lived in Waltham, Mass., until she was seven, though her father was originally from Canada. They moved to California, she said, because he... (continued)

To continue reading, please subscribe.
For only $95 a month (the price of 2 article purchases)
Receive unlimited article access and full access to our archives,
Daily Appellate Report, award winning columns, and our
Verdicts and Settlements.
Or
$795 for an entire year!

Or access this Judicial Profile for $85
(Purchase provides 7-day access to this Judicial Profile. Printing, posting or downloading is not allowed.)

Already a subscriber?

Enewsletter Sign-up

By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. You can learn more about how we use cookies by reviewing our Privacy Policy here.