Judge Andrew S. Blum

Judge Andrew S. Blum serves as a California Superior Court judge at the Lake County Courthouse, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2015. The available public record documents his involvement in serious criminal matters, including a 2022 murder sentencing in which a Clearlake Oaks woman received 50 years to life for the murder of a Rohnert Park man, and 2025 jury trial scheduling for a Clearlake murder defendant. His docket also encompasses conservatorship proceedings, including a matter involving a defendant charged with assaulting a family member, reflecting a breadth of criminal and civil commitment matters handled at the Lake County Superior Court level. Because no analyzed rulings, attorney observations, or ingested content records are available, no patterns regarding his judicial philosophy, ruling tendencies, or courtroom preferences can be drawn from case-level data. What the public record confirms is that Judge Blum handles high-stakes criminal matters — including homicide cases through sentencing — and exercises jurisdiction over conservatorship proceedings, both of which demand procedural precision and thorough evidentiary preparation from counsel. Attorneys appearing before Judge Blum should recognize that the available data is limited to biographical and case-type information. The guidance below is grounded exclusively in what the public record establishes: his appointment history, the nature of cases he has presided over, and the court in which he serves.

Given that Judge Blum has presided over murder sentencings resulting in substantial sentences (50 years to life) and has managed jury trial scheduling in homicide matters, criminal defense attorneys should approach sentencing hearings with comprehensive mitigation packages and be prepared for the court to impose significant sentences where the facts support them. The documented sentencing outcome in the 2022 murder case reflects the gravity with which serious violent offenses are treated in his courtroom. For conservatorship matters, the documented case involving a defendant charged with assaulting a family member indicates that Judge Blum handles the intersection of criminal proceedings and mental health or capacity determinations. Attorneys in those proceedings should be prepared with current clinical evaluations, statutory compliance documentation, and clear procedural records, as conservatorship proceedings require strict adherence to Welfare and Institutions Code requirements. Because no attorney observations or ruling analyses are available, attorneys cannot rely on pattern-based strategic adjustments at this time. The most reliable preparation strategy is thorough procedural compliance, complete evidentiary records, and familiarity with the specific statutory frameworks governing the matter type — criminal or conservatorship — before the court.

• critical

  Prepare Full Sentencing Mitigation Package for Violent Offenses

  The documented 50-years-to-life sentence in a 2022 murder case signals that serious violent matters are treated with gravity. Defense counsel must prepare comprehensive mitigation materials — including character evidence, background records, and expert declarations — well in advance of any sentencing hearing.

• critical

  Ensure Statutory Compliance in Conservatorship Matters

  Judge Blum has handled conservatorship proceedings involving defendants with criminal charges. Attorneys must ensure all Welfare and Institutions Code procedural requirements are met and that current clinical evaluations are on file before any hearing.

• important

  Review Local Lake County Superior Court Rules

  No judge-specific procedural preferences are documented. Attorneys should review Lake County Superior Court's local rules and standing orders to ensure compliance with all filing, scheduling, and courtroom conduct requirements.

• important

  Confirm Jury Trial Scheduling Procedures

  The 2025 jury trial scheduling in a murder case confirms Judge Blum actively manages trial calendars in serious criminal matters. Attorneys should confirm scheduling deadlines and pretrial conference requirements early in the case.

• ›Arrive prepared for substantive proceedings in serious criminal matters — documented case history reflects high-stakes sentencing and trial scheduling in homicide cases.
• ›In conservatorship proceedings, bring all required clinical documentation and statutory compliance records to every hearing, as these matters involve both criminal and civil commitment frameworks.
• ›Follow Lake County Superior Court's local rules precisely, as no judge-specific deviations from standard procedure are documented.
• ›Treat sentencing hearings in violent criminal cases as fully contested proceedings requiring complete evidentiary and mitigation records.