Associate Justice
California Court of Appeal
5th Appellate District
Days:
M-F
2424 Ventura Street
Fresno , CA 93721-3004
(559) 445-5250
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.
USC Gould School of Law, 1981
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Thomas DeSantos brought Central Valley roots to appellate court | May 29, 2026 | |
| Thomas DeSantos | Superior Court Kings County (Hanford) | Mar. 29, 2016 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
People v. Chang
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 26, 2026 |
|
Romero v. County of Kern
author
|
Employment Law | Dec. 16, 2025 |
|
People v. Walts
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 24, 2025 |
|
Wiley v. Kern High School District
author
|
Civil Rights | Dec. 24, 2024 |
|
Yalung v. State of California
author
|
Torts | Dec. 21, 2023 |
|
Kern County Hospital Authority v. Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
author
|
Administrative Agencies | May 30, 2023 |
|
Randy's Trucking v. Superior Court (Buttram)
author
|
Civil Procedure | May 19, 2023 |
|
Martinez v. City of Clovis
author
|
Government | Apr. 7, 2023 |
|
Noble v. Superior Court (Noble)
author
|
Family Law | Nov. 16, 2021 |
|
Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd.
author
|
Labor Law | Jul. 17, 2020 |
|
People v. Sanchez
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 5, 2020 |
|
People v. Machuca
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 28, 2020 |
|
Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd.
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 26, 2019 |
|
J.H. Boyd Enterprises, Inc. v. Boyd
author
|
Civil Procedure | Sep. 13, 2019 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Thomas DeSantos brought Central Valley roots to appellate court | May 29, 2026 | |
| Thomas DeSantos | Superior Court Kings County (Hanford) | Mar. 29, 2016 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
People v. Chang
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 26, 2026 |
|
Romero v. County of Kern
author
|
Employment Law | Dec. 16, 2025 |
|
People v. Walts
author
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 24, 2025 |
|
Wiley v. Kern High School District
author
|
Civil Rights | Dec. 24, 2024 |
|
Yalung v. State of California
author
|
Torts | Dec. 21, 2023 |
|
Kern County Hospital Authority v. Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
author
|
Administrative Agencies | May 30, 2023 |
|
Randy's Trucking v. Superior Court (Buttram)
author
|
Civil Procedure | May 19, 2023 |
|
Martinez v. City of Clovis
author
|
Government | Apr. 7, 2023 |
|
Noble v. Superior Court (Noble)
author
|
Family Law | Nov. 16, 2021 |
|
Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd.
author
|
Labor Law | Jul. 17, 2020 |
|
People v. Sanchez
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 5, 2020 |
|
People v. Machuca
concurring
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | May 28, 2020 |
|
Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd.
author
|
Constitutional Law | Sep. 26, 2019 |
|
J.H. Boyd Enterprises, Inc. v. Boyd
author
|
Civil Procedure | Sep. 13, 2019 |