Santa Barbara County’s newest judge took the oath of office and donned his robe Thursday morning in a Santa Maria courtroom, where he shared about his non-traditional path to a seat on the bench.
With his former colleagues and now fellow jurists watching, Superior Court Judge Juan Higuera took the oath of office from Presiding Judge Patricia Kelly. Higuera was appointed to the job last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Higuera arrived with a varied background, including serving as an attorney for the prosecution and defense at different times during this career.
“I think that will really complement our bench,” Kelly said.
At the time of his appointment, Higuera had worked as a deputy public defender for Santa Barbara County since 2018.
Many of his coworkers from the Public Defender’s Office showed up for the ceremony Thursday. Other supporters watched the oath and robing ceremony remotely.
“Today’s an extraordinary honor, but it’s also an immense responsibility, and I accept this appointment with the humility and with a deep appreciation for the trust that’s been placed in me today,” he said.
The path for Higuera, who grew up in Indio, to become a judge did not involve a normal route.
Before stepping into a courtroom, he worked as a middle school teacher in eastern Coachella Valley, a role that taught him patience and the importance of listening, he said.
He previously worked as an associate at multiple firms, including at Hathaway Firm from 2016 to 2018 and at Hager & Dowling from 2015 to 2016.
Higuera also served as a deputy district attorney in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office from 2013 to 2015.
Recalling his path to the job of judge and support he received along the way, Higuera paused as he became emotional, quipping, “This didn’t happen when I practiced.”
As he paused in his speech, one of Higuera’s new colleagues, Judge Denise Hippach, offered words of support: “I’m proud of you Juan.”
The son of two immigrants from Mexico, he’s among the first generation of his family to graduate from high school, complete college and attend law school.
“My parents sacrificed enormously so that we could have the opportunities that they never had — emotional, mental and the physical sacrifices that they went through built foundations of every accomplishment that I’ve been able to experience,” he said.
He vowed to faithfully follow the law, not his personal preferences or the desires of the loudest voice in the room.
“The oath I take today is not simply a promise to perform a job. It’s a promise to uphold the constitution, to preserve the integrity of our courts and to serve this community with fairness, humility and, most importantly, an unwavering fidelity to the rule of law,” he added.
He earned his undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara, his teaching credential from California State University, San Bernardino and juris doctor from Loyola Law School.
Later this summer, Higuera will be assigned to a felony trial court to begin hearing cases.