Re-Elect Judge Adams

Law Enforcement Endorses Judge Adams

Retired Santa Barbara law enforcement officials Gary and Kimberly Siegel are urging voters to re-elect Judge Thomas Adams for another term on the Superior Court bench. The endorsement comes as Adams fights to retain his seat in one of the closest judicial races in county history, with unofficial returns showing him leading challenger Luis Esparza by just 50.7% to 48.9%.

In their letter to the Santa Barbara Independent, Gary Siegel — a private investigator with 28 years in law enforcement and a former Santa Barbara Police detective and sheriff's deputy — praised Adams' consistent fairness and professionalism. Siegel's wife Kimberly, a former prosecutor with 30 years in the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, echoed those sentiments from her experience handling serious and violent cases in Adams' courtroom.

"Judge Adams was always pleasant, objective, and fair-minded," they wrote. "He arrived at the office exceedingly early in the morning, long before court started and always prepared for his court hearings by taking extensive notes."

A Rare Contested Judicial Race

The race represents an unusual challenge for the 85-year-old Adams, who has served on the bench for more than 40 years. Contested judicial elections are rare in Santa Barbara County, with most judges running unopposed after being appointed by the governor to fill vacancies.

Private attorney Luis Esparza, 46, has campaigned as the candidate for change, citing the need for younger, more diverse representation on the county's aging bench. Esparza, who has 22 years of courtroom experience and is bilingual in Spanish, has focused his campaign on reducing case backlogs and improving court efficiency.

Adams' Long Record of Service

Adams was appointed to the bench in 1982 by Governor Jerry Brown and has presided over tens of thousands of cases during his tenure. He created innovative programs including California's first Teen Court Program and the "Children in the Middle" program to help parents reduce conflict during custody disputes.

Several prominent attorneys and officials have endorsed Adams' re-election, including attorney Paul Capritto and former Deputy District Attorney Joshua Lynn, who praised his temperament, preparation, and respect for all courtroom participants.

Election Still Undecided

With all 147 precincts reporting unofficial results, Adams maintains his narrow lead, but vote-by-mail and provisional ballots continue to be processed. Final results must be certified by July 10, and the close margin means the outcome could shift as more ballots are counted.

The winner will serve a six-year term beginning in January 2027 on the Superior Court bench, overseeing cases ranging from family law matters to serious criminal trials in one of California's most closely watched judicial contests this year.