Judge Christopher Hayes

Judge Christopher Hayes was appointed to the San Bernardino County Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 13, 2024, as part of a cohort of 11 judicial appointments across California. He received his legal education at Duke University School of Law. No disciplinary records exist with the California Commission on Judicial Performance. Because Judge Hayes was appointed in December 2024 and no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available, there is no documented judicial track record from which to draw conclusions about his ruling patterns, courtroom preferences, or judicial philosophy at this time. Attorneys should treat appearances before Judge Hayes as an early-tenure engagement where baseline professional standards and thorough preparation carry heightened importance. The absence of a prior judicial record means that no established tendencies, procedural preferences, or substantive leanings have been documented. Attorneys should monitor early rulings in his courtroom closely and update their assessments as his record develops.

Given that Judge Hayes is a newly appointed judge with no documented ruling history, attorneys cannot rely on established patterns to tailor their arguments. The most effective approach is to present well-organized, thoroughly briefed arguments that do not assume familiarity with local practice shortcuts or informal norms that experienced judges may tolerate. Attorneys should adhere strictly to the San Bernardino County Superior Court's local rules and the California Rules of Court, as a newly appointed judge is more likely to apply rules as written rather than exercise informal discretion built from years on the bench. Procedural compliance and clean, well-cited briefing are the safest foundation for any appearance. Because no attorney observations are available, counsel should arrive early to observe courtroom dynamics firsthand, speak with the clerk regarding any standing orders or preferences, and check the court's website for any posted tentative ruling procedures or department-specific requirements.

• critical

  Review San Bernardino County Local Rules

  With no standing orders or department-specific preferences documented, strict compliance with San Bernardino County Superior Court local rules is the baseline requirement for every appearance.

• critical

  Check Court Website for Department Orders

  Judge Hayes may have posted standing orders or tentative ruling procedures on the court's website or through the clerk's office. Verify before any hearing.

• important

  Prepare Thorough Written Briefing

  Without a known preference for oral argument over written submissions, ensure all written filings are complete, well-cited, and self-contained so the judge can rule on the papers alone if needed.

• important

  Contact Clerk for Courtroom Preferences

  The clerk's office is the most reliable source for any informal preferences or procedural expectations Judge Hayes has established since taking the bench in December 2024.

• Nice

  Monitor Early Published Rulings

  As Judge Hayes builds a record, tracking his early rulings through Trellis or the court's docket will provide the first reliable data on his judicial tendencies.

• ›Arrive early and observe the courtroom environment before your matter is called, as no documented behavioral preferences exist and firsthand observation is the only available guide.
• ›Adhere strictly to all filing deadlines and procedural requirements under the California Rules of Court and San Bernardino County local rules.
• ›Address the court formally and avoid assumptions about informal practices that may have been tolerated by other judges in the department.
• ›Bring all relevant documents and filings organized and tabbed, as a newly appointed judge benefits from well-organized presentations that do not rely on institutional familiarity.