Judge John William Kennedy - Professional Background & Legal Expertise

Biography

The Hon. John William Kennedy is a judge on the Superior Court of Contra Costa County in California. He was elected to the bench on June 22, 2001. He was automatically re-elected in 2010 after running unopposed.

Kennedy earned his bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. He then continued his studies at Georgetown University Law Center, where he completed his J.D. in 1980.

He began his legal career as a law clerk for the Hon. James R. Browning, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Two years later, he joined the Office of the District Attorney of Contra Costa County as a deputy district attorney. He worked there briefly, quickly leaving to become an assistant U.S. attorney for the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California in 1983. Then, in 1986, Kennedy transferred to the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, where he served as an assistant U.S. attorney until his election to the bench.

As a judge, Kennedy has presided over family law and criminal law matters, with a preference for the latter. He has a reputation for being tough on defendants, especially when it comes to handing down sentences in criminal matters.

Kennedy has served on the Board of Directors for Rescue One Foundation. His memberships have included the California Judges Association as well as the Alameda County Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association.

Born and raised in Ohio, Kennedy is a fourth-generation attorney. His three siblings are also attorneys.

Recent Cases by Hon. John William Kennedy

Estate of: Michael Hassen

On November 8, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Nov 08, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Guardianship of: Quin Pledger

On August 31, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 31, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Jack Covey

On August 30, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 30, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Estate of: Joseph Vers

On August 29, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 29, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Jeanne Reed

On August 29, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 29, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Matter of: The Ken Tu Living Trust, dated May 19, 2019

On August 29, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 29, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Estate of: Robert Taylor

On August 29, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 29, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Estate of: Mary Roya

On August 25, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 25, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 29, 2023

Guardianship of: Maxwell Kean

On August 24, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 24, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Beverly Farr

On August 24, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 24, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Betty Conti

On August 23, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 23, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Matter of: Richard A. Lauck's Living Trust

On August 22, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 22, 2022

Status

Judgment (Other)

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Michael Yuschenkoff

On August 19, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 19, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Matter of: THE DONNA HUGHES LIVING TRUST, dated December 18, 1991

On August 18, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 18, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 28, 2023

Estate of: ALICIA JOHNSON

On August 18, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 18, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Guardianship of: KAIDEN ROBERTSON

On August 17, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 17, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 29, 2023

Matter of: Elbing Family Trust

On August 16, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 16, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 21, 2023

Estate of:Chukwudera Ugwuala

On August 16, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 16, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Matter of: THE SHIRLEY NELSON FAMILY TRUST dated December 3, 2004 and signed Janurary 5, 2005

On August 16, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 16, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 14, 2023

Guardianship of: EVANAE MASON

On August 12, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 12, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of: Andrew Jimenez

On August 12, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 12, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 01, 2023

Conservatorship of: Elizabeth Ann Lovato

On August 11, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 11, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 30, 2023

Estate of CHIDDY ESOMONU

On August 11, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 11, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 29, 2023

Estate of: Jeffrey Keller

On August 11, 2022 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County. Judge John William Kennedy presiding.

Filed

Aug 11, 2022

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. John William Kennedy 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for John William Kennedy

Court

Superior

County

Contra Costa County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Probate

Matter Type

General Probate

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 31, 2023

Discover if Hon. Kennedy is the right judge for your case based on their ruling history.

View Analytics Dashboard

About

John William Kennedy
Current Appointment Contra Costa County Superior Court, Department 8	Contra Costa County Superior Court, Department 8
Education Bachelor's degree, Georgetown University J.D., Georgetown University Law Center - 1980	Bachelor's degree, Georgetown University J.D., Georgetown University Law Center - 1980

Documents related to John William Kennedy

Court Info

Court Info
Current Court:	CA - Contra Costa County Superior Court
Clerk phone:	+1 (925) 608-1108

Career History

Career History
Role	Employer	Where
Law Clerk	United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit	None
Deputy District Attorney	Office of the District Attorney	Contra Costa County, California
Assistant U.S. Attorney	Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California	Sacramento County, California
Assistant U.S. Attorney	Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California	None