Judge Scott Young

Judge Scott Young has served on the Napa Superior Court since January 2019, appointed by Governor Brown. He joined the bench alongside Judge Monique Langhorne as one of Napa County's new judges at that time. His docket encompasses both criminal and civil matters, as evidenced by his presiding over a criminal case involving an alleged DUI crash with fatalities and a civil lawsuit brought by a winery against Napa County. The two documented cases provide limited but concrete data points about his judicial conduct. In April 2025, Judge Young denied a Napa mother's request to attend the funeral of her children who were killed in an alleged DUI crash — a ruling that drew regional media coverage from KTVU. This decision reflects a willingness to issue restrictive orders in high-profile criminal matters, even in emotionally charged circumstances. He also presided over a civil trial involving a winery's lawsuit against Napa County, scheduled for late January 2024, demonstrating a mixed civil-criminal docket. Judge Young has a Commission on Judicial Performance record. The existence of a CJP record is a documented fact attorneys should investigate further through public CJP records before appearing before him. Given the limited volume of analyzed rulings and attorney observations, the intelligence profile for Judge Young is based primarily on biographical and case-level data rather than pattern analysis.

Given the limited ruling data available, attorneys should approach appearances before Judge Young with careful attention to the documented case outcomes. In the April 2025 criminal matter, Judge Young denied a defendant's request for a temporary release to attend a funeral — indicating he applies restrictive standards when evaluating requests for accommodations in criminal proceedings, even those with significant humanitarian dimensions. Attorneys seeking similar relief in criminal cases should be prepared to present compelling legal authority and factual justification, as emotional appeals alone did not carry the day in the documented case. For civil matters, the winery-versus-county case suggests Judge Young handles complex local government and land-use adjacent litigation. Attorneys in civil cases should ensure their trial preparation is thorough and that procedural timelines are strictly observed, as the case proceeded to a scheduled trial date without reported continuance issues. The existence of a CJP record warrants review of publicly available Commission on Judicial Performance records prior to any appearance. Attorneys should consult the CJP's public database directly to understand the nature and resolution of any proceedings, as this information is directly relevant to understanding the judge's conduct history.

• critical

  Review CJP Public Records

  Before any appearance, consult the Commission on Judicial Performance's public database to identify the nature and resolution of Judge Young's CJP record. This is directly relevant to understanding his conduct history and any formal findings.

• critical

  Prepare Strong Legal Authority for Discretionary Relief Requests

  The April 2025 ruling denying a funeral attendance request demonstrates Judge Young applies a rigorous standard for discretionary relief in criminal cases. Any such motion must be grounded in specific legal authority, not solely equitable or emotional arguments.

• important

  Confirm Trial Readiness and Procedural Compliance

  The civil case proceeded to a scheduled trial date as reported. Ensure all pretrial deadlines and procedural requirements are met well in advance to avoid adverse rulings on readiness grounds.

• important

  Research Local Napa Superior Court Rules

  With limited judge-specific data available, thorough review of Napa Superior Court's local rules and standing orders is essential to ensure compliance with court-specific procedures.

• important

  Gather Practitioner Intelligence from Local Bar

  Given the absence of attorney observations in available data, consult Napa County Bar Association members or local practitioners who have appeared before Judge Young for firsthand courtroom intelligence.

• ›Be prepared for rulings that prioritize legal standards over equitable or emotional considerations, as demonstrated by the April 2025 denial of a funeral attendance request.
• ›Arrive prepared for trial on the scheduled date; the documented civil case proceeded to trial as scheduled without reported delays.
• ›Treat all proceedings as substantive — Judge Young has handled matters that attracted regional media coverage, indicating he is accustomed to scrutiny on high-profile cases.
• ›Research and comply strictly with Napa Superior Court local rules, as no judge-specific deviations from standard procedure have been documented.