Judge Alissa Bjerkhoel

Judge Alissa Bjerkhoel was appointed to the Nevada County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 18, 2023, bringing with her a career devoted exclusively to criminal justice and innocence advocacy. Her entire pre-bench legal career was spent at the California Innocence Project at California Western School of Law, where she worked from 2008 through 2023 — first as a Staff Attorney and then as Litigation Coordinator. That 15-year tenure represents a singular professional focus: litigating on behalf of wrongfully convicted individuals, with particular emphasis on forensic evidence and DNA testing as tools for exoneration. Her documented work includes the exoneration of Gerardo Cabanillas, who was wrongfully convicted of kidnap and sexual assault in Los Angeles and exonerated via DNA testing in September 2023, as well as involvement in the Brian Banks wrongful conviction case. These are not peripheral matters — they represent the core of her legal identity and the lens through which she approaches questions of evidence, reliability, and the integrity of the criminal justice process. Because Judge Bjerkhoel was appointed in October 2023 and no ruling analyses or attorney observations are yet available, her judicial decision-making record on the bench cannot be assessed from this data. What is established is her deep background in criminal defense-adjacent advocacy, forensic evidence litigation, and systemic critique of wrongful conviction. Attorneys appearing before her — particularly in criminal matters — should understand that she brings direct, hands-on experience with the ways in which flawed evidence and procedural failures produce unjust outcomes.

In criminal matters, attorneys should recognize that Judge Bjerkhoel spent 15 years scrutinizing the reliability of evidence used to convict people. Her career was built on identifying weaknesses in forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony, and investigative procedures. Defense attorneys should present evidentiary challenges with precision and grounding in forensic science, as this judge has direct professional experience evaluating such arguments. Prosecutors should be prepared to defend the reliability and chain of custody of forensic evidence with rigor, as superficial treatment of these issues is unlikely to satisfy a judge with this background. For all parties in criminal proceedings, arguments that invoke the integrity of the fact-finding process — whether challenging the sufficiency of evidence or defending the thoroughness of an investigation — should be made with specificity and documentary support. Judge Bjerkhoel's career demonstrates familiarity with the detailed mechanics of post-conviction litigation, DNA testing protocols, and the procedural history of complex criminal cases. Vague or conclusory arguments about evidence reliability will not carry weight before a judge who has litigated these issues at a granular level for over a decade. Because no ruling analyses or courtroom observations are available, attorneys cannot yet draw on a track record of her judicial rulings. The strategic guidance here is grounded solely in her documented pre-bench career. Attorneys should monitor her emerging rulings closely as her tenure develops, and treat early appearances as opportunities to observe her courtroom preferences firsthand.

• critical

  Prepare Rigorous Forensic Evidence Foundations

  In any criminal matter involving forensic or scientific evidence, prepare detailed documentation of methodology, chain of custody, and laboratory accreditation. Judge Bjerkhoel's career was built on identifying weaknesses in exactly these areas.

• critical

  Research Her Emerging Rulings Continuously

  With an appointment date of October 2023, her judicial record is still developing. Attorneys should actively monitor Nevada County Superior Court records for her rulings as they become available, as this data gap is the single largest unknown in preparing for her courtroom.

• important

  Understand the California Innocence Project's Litigation Methods

  Familiarize yourself with the types of arguments and evidence standards used in innocence litigation, as this is the professional framework Judge Bjerkhoel operated within for 15 years. This context informs how she evaluates claims about evidence reliability.

• important

  Prepare Precise, Document-Supported Arguments

  Her career involved detailed review of case records in complex, high-stakes litigation. Prepare arguments with specific documentary support rather than relying on general assertions, particularly in criminal proceedings.

• important

  Seek Local Counsel Familiar With Her Early Courtroom Practices

  Given the absence of published observations, attorneys who have appeared before her since October 2023 in Nevada County are the best available source of current courtroom intelligence. Consult local practitioners before your first appearance.

• ›Present evidentiary arguments with specificity and documentary grounding — her professional background reflects a high standard for evidence reliability analysis.
• ›Do not make casual or conclusory assertions about the strength of forensic evidence; her career involved detailed scrutiny of exactly these claims.
• ›Treat procedural protections for defendants as substantive matters worthy of serious argument, not as technicalities to be minimized.
• ›Be prepared for detailed questions about the factual record; her litigation background involved mastery of complex, multi-year case files.