Judge Kimberley Baker Guillemet

Judge Kimberley Baker Guillemet serves on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on February 27, 2018. She earned her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. Her appointment was recognized by the Los Angeles Sentinel in April 2018 as part of a cohort of seven judges appointed to the court at that time. The available public record documents her presiding over serious criminal matters. In August 2023, she handled a case in which a suspect entered a not guilty plea in connection with the killing of a Downey teenager. In December 2023, she presided over a high-profile case involving a Hollywood executive's son, in which she ordered the defendant held without bail in connection with a Tarzana body parts case. These two documented cases both involve serious felony criminal proceedings, including bail determinations in high-profile matters. Beyond her judicial role, Judge Baker Guillemet authored 'Black Prep: Life Lessons of A Perpetual Outsider,' published and noted publicly in December 2021. This published work reflects a willingness to engage publicly on issues of identity and institutional navigation. No ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available to support deeper assessment of her judicial philosophy, procedural preferences, or courtroom management style at this time.

The documented cases before Judge Baker Guillemet involve serious felony criminal proceedings, including arraignments and bail hearings. In the December 2023 body parts case, she ordered the defendant held without bail, demonstrating a willingness to impose the most restrictive pretrial detention measure available in a high-profile, serious felony matter. Attorneys handling bail hearings before her in serious felony cases should prepare thorough, evidence-based arguments addressing public safety and flight risk, as the documented record shows she has exercised the no-bail option in appropriate circumstances. Given the absence of ruling analyses, attorney observations, or courtroom conduct data, attorneys should approach preparation conservatively and rely on general best practices for Los Angeles Superior Court criminal proceedings. Research any publicly available minute orders or transcripts from her courtroom through Trellis or the court's own docket system prior to any appearance to supplement the limited intelligence currently available. Judge Baker Guillemet's authorship of a published book on navigating institutional environments as an outsider suggests she brings a considered, reflective perspective to her work. Attorneys should present arguments that are well-organized, factually grounded, and respectful of the court's time. No data exists to identify specific argument styles she rewards or penalizes, so disciplined, professional advocacy is the baseline standard to apply.

• critical

  Research Docket for Recent Minute Orders

  Given the absence of ruling analyses in available databases, attorneys should independently pull minute orders and any available transcripts from Judge Baker Guillemet's courtroom via the LA Superior Court online system or Trellis prior to any appearance.

• critical

  Prepare Thorough Bail Arguments in Felony Matters

  The documented December 2023 no-bail order in a serious felony case establishes that she will impose maximum pretrial detention when the facts support it. Defense counsel must prepare detailed, evidence-supported bail arguments addressing all Penal Code section 1275 factors.

• important

  Review Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division Protocols

  Both documented cases are criminal proceedings. Attorneys should ensure full compliance with Stanley Mosk Courthouse criminal division local rules, standing orders, and any department-specific procedures.

• important

  Consult Colleagues Who Have Appeared Before Her

  No attorney observations are currently available in the data. Directly consulting practitioners who have appeared in her courtroom is the most reliable way to supplement the limited intelligence available before an appearance.

• ›Treat all proceedings with the formality appropriate to a Los Angeles Superior Court criminal courtroom, as both documented cases involve serious felony matters with public and media attention.
• ›Arrive fully prepared on procedural and substantive issues; no data exists to suggest she tolerates unprepared counsel, and her handling of high-profile cases indicates she maintains a professional courtroom standard.
• ›Present factual and legal arguments in an organized, evidence-based manner consistent with the standards expected at USC Gould-trained judicial level of legal analysis.
• ›In bail and detention hearings, be prepared to address all statutory factors on the record, as the documented record shows she makes definitive detention rulings.