The Honorable James R. Wagoner

The Hon. James R. Wagoner (Ret.) served as a judge for the Superior Court of El Dorado County in California. He was elected to the bench on November 5, 2002, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Thomas Smith.

Wagoner earned a B.A. in history from the University of Central Oklahoma. He then entered the police academy in Oklahoma City. He served as a police officer in Oklahoma City for four years before enrolling at the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he completed a J.D.

Prior to his election to the bench, Wagoner served as assistant district attorney in the Office of the District Attorney of El Dorado County from 1994 to 2002.

During his judicial campaign, Wagoner was endorsed by the Deputy Sheriffs Association of El Dorado County, the Placerville Police Officers Association, the Placerville California Highway Patrol Squad Association, Crime Victims United of California, and the El Dorado County Correctional Officers Bargaining Unit.

He has been an active member of the El Dorado Hills Rotary.

In 2011 the Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished Wagoner for the misuse of judicial powers of contempt.