Superior Court of California
Mendocino County
PRESS RELEASE
November 9, 2015
JUDGE DAVID NELSON WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF TERM
Judge David Nelson has announced that he will not seek reelection to a fourth term as judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court and will retire at the end of his term in January, 2017. This will mean that there will be a primary election for the open seat in June, 2016 with a final election in November, 2016 if necessary.
Judge Nelson was appointed to the bench by Governor Gray Davis in 2003 and has been reelected without opposition to two six year terms since that time. He initially presided over adult criminal courts and then served as juvenile court judge for four years. For the last two years, he has returned to a criminal court assignment and has been the Presiding Judge for the Mendocino County Superior Court. He has been judge of the Adult Drug Court throughout his judicial career. Judge John Behnke will take over as the Presiding Judge in January, 2016. Judge Nelson will return to a felony criminal trial court for his last year as a judge.
Judge Nelson said, “It has been a privilege to serve the people of Mendocino County as a judge. I have been blessed to work with a wonderful group of judges and an excellent, hard-working staff. But it is time to pass the baton to a new judge and I look forward to retirement in this beautiful county.”