Judge Kathleen Curtis

Judge Kathleen A. Curtis was appointed to the San Bernardino County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on May 3, 2024, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Lorenzo R. Balderrama. She is assigned to the Victorville Courthouse. Her entire pre-bench legal career was spent as a Deputy District Attorney with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office, a position she held from 2012 through the date of her appointment in 2024 — a span of approximately twelve years. This background means her professional formation occurred entirely within the prosecution function of the criminal justice system. Judge Curtis holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and an M.P.A. from California State University, San Bernardino. The M.P.A. credential reflects formal training in public administration and policy analysis, which is a distinct academic background compared to judges whose graduate education is limited to law. She was also a member of the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association prior to taking the bench. Because Judge Curtis was appointed in May 2024 and no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available, no patterns in her judicial decision-making can be reported at this time. Attorneys should treat this profile as a baseline derived solely from her career history and credentials, and should update their assessments as rulings and observations become available.

Judge Curtis's twelve-year career as a Deputy District Attorney in San Bernardino County is the single most significant data point available for courtroom strategy. Attorneys practicing in criminal defense before her should anticipate that she has deep familiarity with prosecutorial methods, charging decisions, and the internal workings of the San Bernardino County DA's Office. Defense counsel should ensure that procedural arguments and evidentiary challenges are meticulously grounded in statutory authority and case law, as a former prosecutor will recognize arguments that lack doctrinal support. For civil practitioners, the absence of any civil litigation background in her disclosed career history means attorneys should not assume familiarity with civil procedure nuances that fall outside the criminal context. Thorough briefing on civil procedural rules and standards of review is warranted. Attorneys should not rely on shorthand or assume shared context when arguing civil motions. Given her M.P.A. background, arguments that engage with institutional processes, administrative frameworks, or public policy dimensions of a legal issue may resonate. However, this inference is drawn from her academic credential alone, and attorneys should not over-weight it absent observed rulings. The most reliable approach at this stage is to present well-organized, clearly cited, and factually precise arguments in all matters.

• critical

  Prepare Thorough Written Briefs on All Motions

  With no ruling history available, attorneys cannot predict this judge's preferences for oral versus written argument. Comprehensive written submissions ensure your position is fully documented regardless of how much oral argument time is granted.

• critical

  Cite Statutory Authority Precisely in Criminal Matters

  Given her twelve years as a Deputy District Attorney, Judge Curtis will recognize arguments that lack precise statutory or case law grounding. Every criminal motion should be anchored to specific code sections and controlling authority.

• important

  Brief Civil Procedural Foundations Explicitly

  Her disclosed career history contains no civil litigation experience. Do not assume familiarity with civil procedure rules; explain the applicable standard and procedural posture clearly in all civil filings.

• important

  Research Local Rules for Victorville Courthouse

  Victorville Courthouse operates under San Bernardino County Superior Court local rules. Confirm current department-specific standing orders and scheduling requirements, as a newly appointed judge may issue updated standing orders.

• important

  Monitor Early Rulings for Emerging Patterns

  As a judge appointed in May 2024 with no analyzed rulings, early decisions in her courtroom will be the first indicators of her judicial temperament and preferences. Track published and unpublished rulings as they become available.

• Nice

  Review DA's Office Charging and Policy History

  In criminal cases where the San Bernardino County DA's Office is the prosecuting agency, be aware that Judge Curtis has institutional familiarity with that office's practices and personnel from her twelve years there.

• ›Arrive fully prepared with written materials; do not rely on improvised oral argument given the absence of any known preference for informal proceedings.
• ›Treat all procedural requirements as strictly enforced until direct experience or future observations indicate otherwise.
• ›Address the court formally and professionally; a former prosecutor who has appeared in courtrooms for twelve years will be attuned to courtroom decorum.
• ›Do not assume familiarity or informality based on local bar connections; maintain professional distance and formality in all interactions.