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Court of Appeal, Fifth District: 2026 retention votes

Voters in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne decide Yes or No on these 6 justices.

Tip: tap "+ Compare" on up to 3 judges to see them side by side.

Arlan L. Harrell Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Former bankruptcy litigator and Fresno deputy DA; Fresno commissioner and judge to 2025, presiding judge 2020 to 2022. Appointed 2025; no widely reported appellate rulings yet.
Motions granted: 50.6% (County avg 54.7%)Average case length: 106 days (County avg 300)
First retention voteTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 2  No 1 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices), Craig Huey voter guide. No: Reform California.

Granted motions somewhat less often than the county average, and cases moved faster than the county average, which usually reflects the kind of cases assigned. This is a small record, so read it with caution.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 50.6%
County avg: 54.7%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 106 days
County avg: 300 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →
Thomas DeSantos Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Hanford private-practice lawyer for over 20 years; Kings County trial judge 2003 to 2018, presiding judge 2012 to 2014. No widely reported appellate rulings; no discipline found.
Motions granted: 58.1% (County avg 54.7%)Average case length: 384 days (County avg 422)
Full 12-year termTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 2  No 1 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices), Craig Huey voter guide. No: Reform California.

Mostly heard criminal cases. Granted motions somewhat more often than the county average, and cases took about as long as the county average.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 58.1%
County avg: 54.7%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 384 days
County avg: 422 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →
Sonny S. Sandhu Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Former Stanislaus County Public Defender; Stanislaus trial judge 2018 to 2026, presiding judge from 2025. Appointed 2026; no widely reported appellate rulings yet.
Motions granted: 51.8% (County avg 56.2%)Average case length: 551 days (County avg 431)
First retention voteTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 1  No 2 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices). No: Craig Huey voter guide, Reform California.

Heard a mix of cases, most often injury and civil-harm cases (42%). Granted motions somewhat less often than the county average, and cases took longer than the county average, which usually reflects the kind of cases assigned.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 51.8%
County avg: 56.2%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 551 days
County avg: 431 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →
Mark W. Snauffer Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Fresno civil litigator for 23 years; Fresno trial judge 2000 to 2018. Reversed an order keeping Kern River water flowing for fish; now under Supreme Court review.
Motions granted: 52.0% (State avg 54.8%)Average case length: 505 days (State avg 651)
Full 12-year termTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 2  No 1 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices), Craig Huey voter guide. No: Reform California.

Heard a mix of cases, most often injury and civil-harm cases (54%). Granted motions at about the same rate as other judges in the state, and cases moved faster than the state average, which usually reflects the kind of cases assigned.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 52.0%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 505 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →
Amy K. Guerra Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Former chief defense attorney at Fresno's Alternate Defense Office; Fresno family law and domestic violence judge 2018 to 2026. Appointed 2026; no widely reported appellate rulings yet.
Motions granted: 50.1% (County avg 54.7%)Average case length: 372 days (County avg 300)
First retention voteTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 1  No 2 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices). No: Craig Huey voter guide, Reform California.

Mostly heard family law cases. Granted motions somewhat less often than the county average, and cases took about as long as the county average.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 50.1%
County avg: 54.7%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 372 days
County avg: 300 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →
Kathleen A. Meehan Trellis profile ↗
Associate Justice
Former securities litigator and deputy attorney general; Fresno commissioner and judge 2011 to 2017. Reversed a ruling for a baker who refused a same-sex couple's wedding cake.
Motions granted: 50.7% (State avg 54.8%)Average case length: 434 days (State avg 651)
Full 12-year termTrellis trial record
Outside rating. None found. The State Bar rates nominees before appointment, but we could not find this rating in public sources.
Conduct. No public discipline or controversies found.
What others recommend. Yes 2  No 1 Yes: Indivisible Marin (Yes on all California justices), Craig Huey voter guide. No: Reform California.

Mostly heard family law cases. Granted motions somewhat less often than the state average, and cases moved faster than the state average, which usually reflects the kind of cases assigned.

Their trial court record, compared with other judges in the county
Motions granted
This judge: 50.7%
State avg: 54.8%
Average case length
This judge: 434 days
State avg: 651 days
Full profile →