New Superior Court Judge Elizabet Rodriguez

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NEW SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ELIZABET RODRIGUEZ

by Hon. Susan M. Gill

Elizabet Rodriguez was sworn in as a Kern County Superior Court Judge on July 30, 2021. It was a lovely ceremony, held in Department One, as such ceremonies were held for many years in the past. Because of the rising COVID numbers, only a small group of family and friends were present in person.

Elizabet Rodriguez was sworn in as a Kern County Superior Court Judge on July 30, 2021. It was a lovely ceremony, held in Department One, as such ceremonies were held for many years in the past. Because of the rising COVID numbers, only a small group of family and friends were present in person.

It is said that every bride can plan for three things to go wrong the day of her wedding. If she is lucky, once this number is reached, the bride can relax and know it is smooth sailing from then on. This adage can also apply to the first day on a job. Three things quickly went awry for Judge Rodriguez on August 1, 2021. She was settling into her temporary chambers at 1215 Truxtun, when she received the assignment of a felony trial to be held in Dept. 3 at 1415 Truxtun. Judge Rodriguez gathered up her borrowed robe (hers is on back order) and headed down the stairs and through the door through which she had passed many times before with her good friend Judge Gloria Cannon. Unbeknownst to Judge Rodriguez, however, the door had been changed to sound an alarm if it were opened without the swipe of a card key. Thus, she was greeted with a loud siren as soon as she opened the door. #1.

Judge Rodriguez headed into the parking structure to take her car across the street for her first trial, only to learn she was locked out of the parking structure. “So, back to the scene of the crime,” as she laughingly called it, and through the loudly squawking door, to borrow a key to get into the parking structure. #2.

As she settled into Department 3 for her first trial, Judge Rodriguez realized she had forgotten her name. That is, the nameplate that goes on the bench. #3. Now, she could relax and enjoy her first day as a judge. Except that the challenges kept coming. With the aplomb she has shown during her entire career, Judge Rodriguez weathered the challenges and is on her way to a great career as a jurist.

Elizabet Rodriguez grew up in Lamont. Her parents met while picking grapes in the fields, and they instilled in their daughter a tremendous work ethic. After graduating from Arvin High School, Judge Rodriguez entered California State University, Bakersfield, intending to teach high school mathematics. While attending college, she worked in the Law office of David Torres. One of her college professors was Judge Richard Oberholzer, who assigned the class homework to watch a trial. That was easy homework for Judge Rodriguez to complete, she would watch her boss in trial. Through working for and observing Mr. Torres, Judge Rodriguez realized “how a lawyer is actually able to assist people – especially in hopeless situations.” She changed her major to Criminal Justice, and the world lost a fine math teacher.

Judge Rodriguez earned her J.D. from Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, CA. She started her career as an attorney in the Riverside District Attorney’s Office. Three years later she began working for a private firm doing criminal defense work. As so many of us do, she finally came home to Kern County in 2013 and went to work for the Kern County Public Defender.

Judge Rodriguez enjoyed much success as a Deputy Public Defender. She prevailed in multiple motions to suppress evidence and motions to dismiss pursuant to Penal Code section 995, as well as writs filed in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. When asked what the secret of her success was, Judge Rodriguez said she is intimately familiar with the Fourth Amendment, and she was always looking for Fourth Amendment issues. She would resist filing suppression motions in cases if she thought there was no true basis for the motion. She waited for the cases in which there were legitimate Fourth Amendment issues at stake. Then she was meticulous in researching and writing her motions, and she often sought the advice and guidance of mentors. She asserted, “Asking for advice is really important.”

for a judicial position, and she was appointed by Governor Newsom in July 2021. “I hope that my experience, both legally and based on my background, will help diversify the bench,” she explained. “I am the second Latina judge appointed to the bench, I am local, and I am the second judge appointed to the bench directly from the Public Defender’s Office within the last ten years.” As a Judge, she hopes to “use my position as a platform to encourage youth in the community, especially in our rural communities, like the one I came from, to strive for higher education.” She wants young people to know that coming from a low-income or rural community does not prevent them from going to college and realizing their dreams.

Many are thrilled with Judge Rodriguez’s appointment to the bench. H.A. Sala explains why: “Judge Rodriguez has been devoted to the pursuit of justice throughout her legal career. She has distinguished herself as a gifted advocate with unsurpassed analytical ability and has been universally praised by defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judicial officers for her exceptional work ethic, exhaustive preparation, and dedication to the rule of law. Judge Rodriguez contributes to the bench a determination to overcome adversity, diverse life experiences, and superlative legal acumen. She will bring inspiring honor to the bench, our community, and the legal profession.”

Judge Rodriguez and her husband have an elderly dog, Julie, who even at age 16 and with substantial medical challenges, is “a super happy dog.” Judge Rodriguez wants to help her parents in their retirement years, and she wants to mentor young people. She has reaped the benefit of those who have mentored her, H.A. Sala and Judge Gloria Cannon to name two, and she wants to pay forward such a gift. She has been mentoring a young woman, Fatima Rodriguez, who was in law school. Judge Rodriguez proudly proclaims that Fatima has recently joined the California Bar as an attorney. Judge Rodriguez has reached out to Dr. Jeanine Kraybill, the Pre-Law Society Advisor at CSUB, seeking ways to be involved with students.

Judge Elizabet Rodriguez is a welcome addition to the Kern County Superior Court Bench.