Judge Kerry R. Bensinger

Judge Kerry R. Bensinger serves on the Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, having been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on December 28, 2011. He earned his law degree from USC Gould School of Law and practiced as an attorney in San Marino, California before ascending to the bench. His appointment is gubernatorial, reflecting a formal vetting process consistent with California's judicial appointment standards. Public coverage of Judge Bensinger includes a 2024 Daily Journal feature titled 'Drawn to the Drama,' indicating that his judicial work has attracted ongoing professional media attention more than a decade into his tenure. A January 2018 Metropolitan News-Enterprise article references a case connected to Canada's Attorney General that reached the California Court of Appeal, suggesting his rulings have at times generated appellate-level scrutiny and cross-jurisdictional significance. Because no analyzed rulings, attorney observations, or ingested content are available in the current dataset, this profile is built exclusively from verified biographical and public record data. Attorneys should treat the strategic guidance below as a baseline framework derived from his documented background, and supplement it with direct research into his recent rulings on the Los Angeles Superior Court's online docket and through colleagues who have appeared before him.

Given the absence of analyzed rulings or attorney observations, attorneys appearing before Judge Bensinger should conduct independent docket research on the Los Angeles Superior Court's online case management system to identify recent orders and tentative rulings in matters similar to their own. His over-a-decade tenure on the bench means a substantial body of written orders exists in the public record, and reviewing those orders is the most reliable way to understand his analytical framework and procedural expectations. The 2024 Daily Journal profile titled 'Drawn to the Drama' signals that Judge Bensinger is recognized within the legal community as a jurist of note. Attorneys should approach hearings with well-organized, substantive arguments and avoid procedural shortcuts, as judges who attract professional media attention tend to maintain high standards for courtroom presentation and written submissions. The appellate-level attention reflected in the 2018 Metropolitan News-Enterprise article suggests that at least some of Judge Bensinger's rulings have been subject to appellate review. Attorneys should ensure their arguments are fully preserved on the record and that objections are clearly stated, as the record before this judge has demonstrably reached reviewing courts.

• critical

  Conduct Independent Docket Research

  Search the Los Angeles Superior Court's online case management portal for Judge Bensinger's recent orders, tentative rulings, and minute orders in cases similar to yours. This is the most critical preparatory step given the absence of analyzed rulings in this profile.

• critical

  Review Appellate Decisions Referencing His Rulings

  Search California Court of Appeal opinions for cases originating from Judge Bensinger's department. The 2018 Metropolitan News-Enterprise reference to an appellate matter connected to his rulings confirms that such decisions exist and can reveal his analytical approach.

• important

  Prepare a Complete and Clear Record

  Given documented appellate-level review of at least one of his rulings, ensure all objections, arguments, and evidence are fully and clearly placed on the record at every hearing.

• important

  Review the 2024 Daily Journal Profile

  Obtain and read the 2024 Daily Journal article titled 'Drawn to the Drama' to gain insight into Judge Bensinger's judicial philosophy and any self-described priorities or perspectives he may have shared.

• important

  Consult Colleagues with Prior Appearances

  Seek out attorneys who have appeared before Judge Bensinger in the Stanley Mosk Courthouse to gather firsthand observations about his courtroom preferences, procedural expectations, and demeanor.

• ›Prepare thoroughly and present arguments with precision — Judge Bensinger's recognition in the Daily Journal suggests he engages seriously with substantive legal issues and expects the same from counsel.
• ›Ensure all arguments and objections are clearly stated on the record, as his rulings have reached the California Court of Appeal and record completeness is demonstrably important in his courtroom.
• ›Arrive prepared with organized written submissions, as a jurist with over a decade on the bench at a high-volume courthouse such as Stanley Mosk will have established procedural expectations for motion practice.
• ›Treat all hearings as consequential regardless of their apparent routine nature, consistent with the standard expected before an experienced gubernatorial appointee with a documented public profile.