Biography

The Hon. George C. Eskin (Ret.) was a judge for the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in California. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Gray Davis in 2003. At the time of his appointment, he filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Harry Loberg (Ret.). Eskin retired from the bench in 2013 and his vacancy was filled by the Hon. Michael Carrozzo.

Eskin graduated with his B.A. in theater arts from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1960. He went on to earn his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1965. While in law school, Eskin served as president of the Student Bar Association and was also an Associate Justice with the Moot Court Honors Program.

Eskin worked as a deputy district attorney for both the Ventura County (1968 to 1971) and the Santa Barbara County (1975 to 1976) District Attorney's Offices. He joined the Santa Barbara County D.A.'s office after a brief stint in private practice. During his time as a prosecutor, Eskin served as a legal advisor to the Grand Jury.

Eskin also worked as a chief assistant city attorney for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office beginning in 1976.

Eskin re-entered private practice in 1981, where he would spend the bulk of his legal career. He served as a partner alongside his wife, Hannah-Beth Jackson, at the Law Offices of Eskin and Jackson for almost nineteen years, where he specialized in criminal defense. He remained in that capacity until his appointment to the Superior Court in 2003.

In 1997, Eskin entered into a brief retirement to become a stay-at-home father after his wife was elected to serve as a California State Assemblywoman (D-Santa Barbara).

During his tenure on the bench, Eskin was instrumental in helping to establish the Veterans Treatment Court alongside the Hon. Michael Carozzo who succeeded him on the bench. Eskin was also a proponent of rehabilitation options for substance abuse and mental health cases over prison time. He was also a supporter of media coverage in the courtroom.

Interestingly, Eskin held a weekly talk show on a local radio station where he discussed social and political issues and was also the announcer for the University of California, Santa Barbara women's basketball games.

He has served as a judge and coach for local high-school mock trial competitions.

In 2016, the Hon. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye appointed the retired judge to serve on the newly-formed Pretrial Detention Reform Work Group. The group was implemented to study the current pretrial detention practices and provide potential reform recommendations.