Stockton, CA — The San Joaquin County Superior Court is pleased to announce Hon. Judge Lance G. Jacot has been selected as the new Presiding Judge, effective January 1, 2026. Judge Jacot replaces outgoing Presiding Judge Gus Barrera II, whose leadership and service to the court are gratefully acknowledged.

Judge Jacot most recently served as Assistant Presiding Judge during the 2024–2025 term, providing continuity and institutional knowledge as he assumes his new role. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2019.

Prior to his judicial appointment, Judge Jacot built a distinguished legal career dedicated to public service. He served as a Deputy Public Defender with the San Joaquin County Public Defender’s Office from 1999 to 2010, and again from 2019 until his appointment to the bench. From 2010 to 2019, Judge Jacot practiced as a sole practitioner, gaining broad experience in criminal defense and courtroom advocacy.

Judge Jacot earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Presiding Judge Jacot along with the assistance of Court Executive Officer, Stephanie Bohrer will oversee the administration of the court, working closely with judicial officers and staff to ensure the fair, efficient, and accessible delivery of justice to the San Joaquin County community.

Judge Jayne Chong-Soon Lee has been named the new Assistant Presiding Judge. Appointed to the San Joaquin County Superior Court in December 2019, she currently serves as Supervising Judge for the Civil Division.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Lee served as a court commissioner, judge pro tem, and supervising probate attorney for the San Joaquin County Superior Court. Her earlier experience includes serving as a legal research attorney with the Alameda County Superior Court, Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, and an adjunct professor and lecturer at Golden Gate University School of Law and Stanford Law School.

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Stockton, CA — The Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin is pleased to announce it has been awarded a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its DUI Court Program. The grant supports program operations from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with the goal of reducing the number of individuals injured or killed in alcohol-related collisions in San Joaquin County.

The San Joaquin DUI Court Program began in 2008 and targets all repeat DUI offenders in Stockton. The program includes a treatment track designed for offenders with substance dependence or addiction, focusing on providing substance abuse treatment in conjunction with continuous alcohol monitoring, drug testing, and regular court appearances. Additionally, the program will continue to expand a new monitoring track focused on monitoring and regular court appearances for repeat offenders who are assessed as not having a dependence or addiction problem.

This grant will allow the San Joaquin DUI Court Program to enhance its established program by focusing on strengthening its two-tier system and capacity building. It will fund two full-time case managers who will support both the Court and community. Case managers assist in improving offender accountability, increasing court appearance rates, and enhancing retention and successful completion.

The grant will also support the Choices and Consequences school outreach program, which educates middle and high school students on the dangers of driving while under the influence. The Court initially implemented the virtual format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the virtual option has been maintained for the convenience of participating schools and to expand outreach to additional students. The Court expects to reach several hundred students during the grant period.

DUI Court partners with healthcare treatment providers, social services, and other community-based organizations to develop an effective course of treatment for participants through a combination of judicial supervision and other supportive services.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.