Judge Keenan Perkins

Judge Keenan Perkins was appointed to the Kern County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom, with the appointment dated December 13, 2024 and publicly announced on December 19, 2024. He is a recent appointee with no published judicial ruling history available for analysis at this time. His entire pre-bench career was spent as a criminal defense attorney in Kern County, where he handled serious felony matters including a high-profile 2023 case representing a defendant accused of killing a 10-year-old girl. That case involved litigation over access to DHS and probation files, demonstrating his familiarity with discovery disputes involving third-party government records in criminal proceedings. Because Judge Perkins transitioned directly from criminal defense practice to the bench, attorneys appearing before him can expect a judge who has firsthand experience with the defense perspective in serious criminal cases. His background is exclusively in criminal law based on available data; no civil, family law, or other practice area experience is documented in the provided sources. With no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or courtroom conduct records available, the confidence level for behavioral predictions remains at the floor threshold. Attorneys should treat appearances before Judge Perkins as an opportunity to establish early impressions, as his judicial record is effectively blank and norms in his courtroom are still being established.

Given Judge Perkins's background as a criminal defense attorney, attorneys on both the prosecution and defense sides of criminal matters should be prepared for a judge who understands defense-side procedural arguments, discovery obligations, and the practical realities of representing serious felony defendants. His documented involvement in a case that turned on access to DHS and probation records signals familiarity with third-party discovery disputes and the procedural mechanisms used to obtain them. Attorneys litigating discovery issues in criminal cases before him should be precise and well-prepared on the applicable statutes and case law. Because Judge Perkins is newly appointed as of December 2024, no ruling pattern data exists to guide argument style preferences, motion practice tendencies, or courtroom demeanor expectations. Attorneys should approach early appearances with thorough preparation, clear legal citations, and professional conduct, as first impressions before a new judge carry outsized weight when no established reputation exists. For civil practitioners appearing before Judge Perkins, no data exists regarding his civil law background or preferences. Attorneys in non-criminal matters should not assume familiarity with civil procedure nuances and should provide clear, well-organized briefing that does not rely on the court's assumed background knowledge in areas outside criminal law.

• critical

  Prepare Thorough Legal Citations on All Issues

  With no ruling history to indicate how Judge Perkins resolves contested legal questions, attorneys must not rely on assumed judicial familiarity. Every legal argument should be fully supported with statutory text and case citations in briefing and oral argument.

• critical

  Research Any Emerging Courtroom Practices

  As a judge appointed in December 2024, Judge Perkins's courtroom procedures, scheduling preferences, and local rules compliance expectations are not yet documented. Contact the clerk's office or colleagues with recent appearances to gather current procedural information before any hearing.

• important

  Prepare Detailed Discovery Briefing in Criminal Cases

  His documented involvement in a case centered on access to DHS and probation records indicates he has litigated third-party discovery disputes from the defense side. Attorneys on either side of such disputes should be fully prepared on the governing statutes and procedural requirements.

• important

  Do Not Assume Civil Law Familiarity

  No civil practice background is documented for Judge Perkins. Civil practitioners should provide foundational procedural context in briefs and not assume the court's background knowledge in civil litigation practice areas.

• ›Treat early appearances as reputation-setting opportunities; Judge Perkins is newly on the bench and first impressions carry significant weight with no prior judicial reputation established.
• ›Arrive fully prepared on procedural and substantive law, as no ruling history exists to indicate how the court handles gaps in attorney preparation.
• ›Confirm current courtroom procedures and scheduling requirements directly with the clerk's office before each appearance, as practices for a judge appointed in December 2024 are still being established.