Former federal court clerk and state attorney to fill vacancy left by Judge Dixon’s retirement
YREKA — Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Kendall Hannon to serve as a judge on the Siskiyou County Superior Court, filling the position left vacant by the retirement of Judge Karen L. Dixon.
Hannon, an Alameda County resident, brings extensive experience from both federal and state courts to the rural Northern California bench. He currently serves as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Attorney General’s Office, a position he has held since 2024.
The appointee’s career spans multiple levels of the judicial system. Most recently, he worked as an attorney with the Judicial Council of California from 2022 to 2024. Prior to that, Hannon spent significant time in the federal court system, serving as a Staff Attorney at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit during two separate periods (2018-2022 and 2015-2017) and as an Administrative Law Clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (2017-2018 and 2013-2015).
His experience also includes work as an Appellate Attorney at the California Court of Appeal’s First Appellate District in 2015 and earlier positions at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the private sector, including time as an Associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.
Hannon earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He is registered as a Democrat and will receive the standard judicial compensation of $244,727 annually.
The appointment addresses a critical need for the Siskiyou County Superior Court, which serves one of California’s most geographically expansive counties. Judge Dixon’s retirement had left the court short-staffed in handling the county’s civil and criminal caseload.
Hannon’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, which reviews the qualifications of all gubernatorial judicial nominees.
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4 Comments
Will Judge Shannon establish a residence in Siskiyou County?
Will Judge Shannon establish a residence in Siskiyou County?
Interesting question, I am researching whether a judge from another county being placed in Siskiyou is a first? Answer is Yes, but last 3 been from neighboring counties. This is a first to have a “urban” judge placed in a rural county.
Our family goes back to 1931 in Siskiyou County, when my grandparents, Francis and Isabel Hannon homesteaded in Tulelake. My father and two uncles graduated from Tulelake high school and went onto professional careers.
We continue to own and maintain our homestead, and Kendall has a great love and appreciation of Siskiyou County his entire life.
I firmly believe he’ll be an asset to the court.
Sincerely,
John Hannon
PS expanding upon the announcement of his appointment, I would like to point out that Kendall graduated first in his class at Notre Dame law school and was Editor in Chief of the law review.