Two Judges Appointed to Santa Barbara Bench

Governor Jerry Brown appointed two judges — Gustavo Lavayen and Pauline Maxwell — to the Santa Barbara County bench on Friday.

Lavayen’s resume boasts 24 years at the Santa Barbara Office of County Counsel. Before that, he worked for five years in the District Attorney’s Office and one year as a private attorney. Lavayen will fill the seat of Judge James Iwasko, who retired after serving in Santa Maria since 2002.

Maxwell will take the South County seat of Judge Denise de Bellefeuille, who retired in September after 21 years on the bench. Maxwell has a diverse law background, holding positions as a commissioner, staff research attorney, adjunct professor of law, and a senior litigation associate. Lavayen and Maxwell will both earn $184,610 a year.

In September, Judge Frank Ochoa announced he will retire in early January.