Judge Shelly J. Averill: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Sonoma County Superior Court, Department 23

CA Bar #: 185158 (December 1996)

Appointed By: Gov. Arnold A. Schwarzenegger

Biography

The Hon. Shelly J. Averill is a judge on the Superior Court of Sonoma County in California. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Knoel L. Owen.

Averill earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Sonoma State University. She then completed a J.D. from Empire College School of Law in 1996. As a law student, she clerked for the Family Support Division in the Office of the District Attorney of Sonoma County.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Averill worked as a family law attorney in Santa Rosa from 1996 to 2010.

She has taught as a professor of law at Empire College School of Law.

Her memberships have included the Family Law Section of the Sonoma County Bar Association as well as the Family Law Section of the California Bar Association.

Averill was born in San Francisco and raised in Santa Rosa, where she attended Piner High School. Her father was an owner of a San Francisco-based printing company.

She is registered as a Republican.

Recent Cases by Hon. Shelly J. Averill

Sanchez Velazquez vs Zamora Anguiano

On February 6, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 06, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Child Support

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Mcculloch/Mcculloch Dissolution

On February 6, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 06, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Si/Si Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Hofftin/Hofftin Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Piccolo/Weichert Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Sanford/Fistolera Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Cruz Gutierrez/Garcia Sordia, JR Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 06, 2026

Bianchi/Bianchi Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Pearson/Perez Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 06, 2026

GEDLU/Haylezgi Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 06, 2026

Hinckley/Adamo Dissolution

On February 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 05, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 07, 2026

Field/Field Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Samaniego-Lara vs Montano

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Child Support

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 13, 2026

Ordaz Garcia/Castaneda Gallardo Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Curry/Curry Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Sheridan, JR/Sheridan Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Fisher/CONKLE Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Badgley/Badgley Dissolution

On February 4, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 04, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 06, 2026

White/Lawrence Dissolution

On February 2, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Feb 02, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 04, 2026

Perez vs Navidad

On January 23, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Jan 23, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Other Parent-Child

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 11, 2026

Ortega Marquez vs Ortega Marquez

On January 23, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Jan 23, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Other Parent-Child

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 23, 2026

Parseghian/Parseghian, JR Dissolution

On January 23, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Jan 23, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 23, 2026

Peters/PETERS Dissolution

On January 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Jan 22, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 22, 2026

Swim/Butler Swim Dissolution

On January 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Sonoma County. Judge Shelly J. Averill presiding.

Filed

Jan 22, 2026

Status

Active

Judge

Hon. Shelly J. Averill 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Shelly J. Averill

Court

Family

County

Sonoma County, CA

Case #

(Subscribe to View)

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Divorce,Separation

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 22, 2026

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About

Shelly J. Averill
Current Appointment Sonoma County Superior Court, Department 23	Sonoma County Superior Court, Department 23
Education J.D., Empire College School of Law - 1996 Bachelor's degree, Sonoma State University	J.D., Empire College School of Law - 1996 Bachelor's degree, Sonoma State University