A former Mendocino County public defender has been appointed to a judgeship in Ventura County Superior Court. Kristi J. Peariso, since her time in Mendocino County, has served as a law professor at the Southern California Institute of Law from 2008-to 2017. She has also provided defense for the accused in other counties including Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. Her appointment is one of 17 appointments to the courts made by Governor Gavin Newsom.