Presiding Judge Patricia L. Kelly has welcomed Sydney Bennett as the newest judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, following her appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday, March 27, 2026.
Bennett has served as a Senior Public Defender at the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office since 2020 and was a Deputy Public Defender there from 2006 to 2020.
She previously worked as a Contract Attorney at Maguire & Ashbaugh in 2006, at the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office from 2005 to 2006, and with the North Defense Team from 2003 to 2005. She earned her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law…