W. Kent Hamlin
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W. Kent Hamlin was a judge for the Superior Court of Fresno County in California. He was first elected in 1998. Hamlin was re-elected in both 2004 and 2010, and without opposition in 2016.[1][2] He retired from the bench in 2021.
Elections
2016
California held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. There was a primary on June 7, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was March 31, 2016. A total of 351 seats were up for election. Incumbent W. Kent Hamlin ran unopposed in the election for Office 3 of the Fresno County Superior Court.[3]
| Fresno County Superior Court Judge, Office #3, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 W. Kent Hamlin Incumbent | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election
The 1,535 judges of the California Superior Courts compete in nonpartisan races in even-numbered years. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the June primary election, he or she is declared the winner; if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two candidates is held during the November general election.[4][5][6][7]
If an incumbent judge is running unopposed in an election, his or her name does not appear on the ballot. The judge is automatically re-elected following the general election.[4]
The chief judge of any given superior court is selected by peer vote of the court's members. He or she serves in that capacity for one or two years, depending on the county.[4]
Qualifications
Candidates are required to have 10 years of experience as a law practitioner or as a judge of a court of record.[4]
2010
Hamlin was re-elected after running unopposed for the Superior Court of Fresno County.
- See also: California judicial elections, 2010
Awards and associations
- Director, Alliance of California Judges[8]
Noteworthy cases
California court rules against use of smart phone maps while driving
Lost in California? Thinking of using your phone for directions while you drive? Think again.
Judge W. Kent Hamlin of the Fresno County Superior Court ruled the use of cell phone mapping applications while driving was illegal under Section 23123 of the California Vehicle Code.[9]
The decision was made after the defendant, Steven Spriggs, was pulled over and cited for using his phone for directions while driving. Spriggs challenged the citation, saying that the ban on texting and talking on a phone did not apply to the use of maps.[10]
Judge Hamlin explained that while the defendant did not use the phone to make a call or text, it still served as a distraction and violation of the law.
| “ | Because it is undisputed that appellant used his wireless telephone while holding it in his hand as he drove his vehicle, his conduct violated Vehicle Code section 23123, subdivision (a).[11] - Judge W. Kent Hamlin[12] | ” |
Read the court's whole decision here: People of the State of California v. Steven R. Spriggs (dead link)
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ California Courts, "Trial Courts Roster," accessed November 11, 2016
- ↑ Fresno County Judicial Roster
- ↑ Fresno County, CA, "Conteset/Candidate Proof List," accessed April 5, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: California," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Safeguarding California's judicial election process," August 21, 2011
- ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8203," accessed May 21, 2014
- ↑ California Elections Code, "Section 8140-8150," accessed May 21, 2014
- ↑ Alliance of California Judges website:Membership
- ↑ Press Democrat, "California court: Motorist can't use hand-held map," April 10, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Alaska Dispatch, "California court bans use of smart phone maps while driving," April 8, 2013
- ↑ People of the State of California v. Steven R. Spriggs (dead link)
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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