Overview
The Hon. William J. Terrence is a judge for the Fresno County Superior Court in California[1]. Terrence was elected to the bench on June 5, 2018[1].
While on the bench, Terrence's assignments have included service as supervising judge for criminal felony home courts and the domestic violence division, along with general trials and the Friday criminal law and motion calendar[1]. In 2025, he sentenced a woman to fifteen years to life in prison after her guilty plea to second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while impaired, and hit-and-run arising from a fatal DUI crash[2]. In 2020, Terrence oversaw misdemeanor DUI hearings in which some defendants were sentenced to the Adult Offenders work program as an alternative to jail time[3].
Educational background
At Whittier Law School, in Costa Mesa, California, Terrence completed a J.D.[1] He was admitted to the State Bar of California (December 2004).
Career history
After graduating from law school, Terrence began his legal career as an associate at Marderosian, Runyon, Cercone, Lehman & Armo PC (2004 to 2007), working alongside Fresno attorney Mick Marderosian[1]. During the economic crisis that began in 2007, a decline in the civil matters he was handling led him to seek courtroom experience in the district attorney's office[1]. In 2007, he joined the Fresno County District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. He remained with the office for eleven years and later served as a senior deputy district attorney.
Alongside that work, Terrence served as planning commissioner for Clovis, California. His credentials also included certification as a specialist through the State Bar of California.
Personal life
Outside the courtroom, Terrence described spending time with his family and coaching his sons' baseball teams in his free time.
References
[1] Daily Journal — Judicial Profile
[2] GV Wire — Fresno County Repeat Drunk Driver Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for Fatal Crash
[3] The Davis Vanguard — No Court Battles Here: DUI Offenders in Fresno Start Early on Rehabilitation Prior to Sentencing
