Biography

The Hon. Seth R. Hoyt, Jr. is a judge for the San Joaquin County Superior Court in California. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010. He filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Cinda S. Fox (Ret.).

He is a registered Republican.

Judge Hoyt received his B.A. in political science and Spanish translation from Brigham Young University in 1994. He went on to earn his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1997.

Hoyt served a year-long clerkship with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Legal Affairs Division. After graduating from law school, he joined the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office as a deputy district attorney. During his tenure there, Hoyt was assigned to the Homicide/Gang Prosecution Unit.

Then, in 2008, after ten years with the D.A.'s office, Hoyt was selected to serve as a court commissioner for the San Joaquin County Superior Court. While in that position, Hoyt presided over misdemeanor, traffic, small claims, civil harassment, and unlawful detainer cases. He remained in that capacity until being elevated to the bench two years later.

While on the bench, Judge Hoyt has presided in the Criminal Division and has served as a Supervising Criminal Judge.

His memberships have included the San Joaquin County Attorney's Association, the Deputy District Attorneys Association, the Peacekeeper Outreach Program, the San Joaquin County Gang Task Force, the San Joaquin County Bar Association, and the Consuelo M. Callahan Inn of Court.

Hoyt is fluent in Spanish. He has served on the board of directors for the Concilio, Council for the Spanish Speaking and has also been a speaker on the subject of driving under the influence to members of the Spanish-speaking community.