Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California's rural counties.
Kelly Babineau, of Sacramento County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Nevada County Superior Court. Babineau has been a Sole Practitioner since 2009. She served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office from 2002 to 2009 and was an Attorney for the California Central Appellate Project from 2005 to 2015. Babineau was an Associate at Rothschild, Wishek & Sands from 2000 to 2002. She served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2000. She was a Contract Attorney on the Panel at the Office of the Federal Defender, Eastern District of California from 2010 to 2021 and for the Sacramento County Conflict Criminal Defenders from 2009 to 2022. Babineau earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Thomas M. Anderson. Babineau is a Democrat.
John P. Fitzpatrick II, of Davis, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, Veterans Homes at the Veterans Homes Division of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Fitzpatrick has been Finance Budget Analyst at the California Department of Finance since 2008 and has served in several positions there since 2004, including Principal Program Budget Analyst II and Principal Program Budget Analyst III. He was Fiscal Director at the California Redistricting Commission in 2021. Fitzpatrick was an Auditor at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Contract Audit Agency from 2002 to 2004. He was an Analyst at Accenture from 2001 to 2002. Fitzpatrick was a Graduate Assistant at San Diego State University, Graduate School of Business in 2000. He earned a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Taxation from San Diego State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $151,728. Fitzpatrick is registered without party preference.
Katherine Hansen, of Monterey County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. Hansen has served as a Commissioner at the Santa Cruz County Superior Court since 2022. She was Deputy County Counsel in the Monterey County Counsel’s Office from 2019 to 2022. She was State Affairs Counsel at the American Association for Justice from 2016 to 2019 and an Attorney at the Veen Firm from 2014 to 2016. Hansen was a Partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP from 2008 to 2013 and Vice President of Legislative Affairs at Barbary Coast Consulting from 2007 to 2008. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Hansen fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Paul M. Marigonda. She is a Democrat.
Catherine Swysen, of Santa Barbara County, has been appointed to serve as a Judge in the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. Swysen has been Managing Partner at Sanger Swysen & Dunkle since 1997, where she has held several positions since 1992 including Associate and Law Clerk. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law. Swysen fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ginger E. Garrett. She is a Democrat.