Career Highlights: Appointed justice of the 5th District Court of Appeal by Gov. Jerry Brown, 2018; judge, Kings County Superior Court, 2003-18; sole practitioner, 1994-2003; partner, Farley, Rynda & DeSantos, 1984-93; associate, Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, 1981-83.
Law School: USC Gould School of Law, 1981
FRESNO -- Justice Thomas DeSantos learned some things while working in the fields.
"I know how to drive tractors, spray cotton, run a Caterpillar," he said.
DeSantos grew up in the farming community of Hanford, 30 miles south of Fresno. Like his parents when they were young, he sometimes worked for farmers, especially in the summers. Days began at 5 a.m. He once found himself driving a tractor spraying fields before he was 18 or even knew how to driv... (continued)
