Governor Elevates Ventura County Court Commissioner To Judgeship

Monday September 30, 2024

     Governor Newsom has elevated a Ventura County Superior Commissioner to Ventura County Superior Court Judge.

     Russel-Paul H. Kawai of Ventura County has been a court commissioner since 2021.

     He has also served as a Military Judge in the United States Army Reserves, 150th Legal Operations Detachment, from 2023 to 2024.

     Kawai was a Senior Deputy Ventura County Public Defender from 2014 to 2021.

     He was a Sole Practitioner from 2010 to 2014 and was a trial attorney at the Utah County Public Defender Association from 2007 to 2010.

     Finally, Kawai was a partner at the Law Offices of Esplin and Weight from 2001 to 2006.

     He earned his law degree from BYU Law School and a Master of Arts Degree in Strategy from the United States Army War College.

     Kawai fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Rocky Baio.

     The Governor's Office say Kawai is a Democrat.

     The compensation for a Superior Court Judgeship is $243,940.