Governor Newsom appoints Kristy Imel to Santa Barbara County Superior Court

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Governor Newsom announced that Kristy Imel of San Luis Obispo County has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Her appointment is to a position vacated after the retirement of Judge Arthur Garcia and she is scheduled to be sworn into her new position on Oct. 10 of this year.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Presiding Judge Pauline Maxwell said, “Judge Imel will be an
outstanding addition to the Santa Barbara Superior Court. Her tenure with the Merced and San Luis Obispo District Attorney’s offices provides her with excellent experience in preparation for this new role. I join the voices of the entire Santa Barbara Superior Court in welcoming her to this new chapter in her career.”

Imel has served as a Deputy District Attorney in the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office since 2010 and served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Merced County District Attorney's Office from 2007 to 2010.

Prior to her service at those two district attorney's offices, she worked as an Adjunct Professor at Merced College from 2008 to 2009.

Imel earned her Juris Doctorate from Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law.