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Thomas DeSantos

See more on Thomas DeSantos

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