GREGORY D. TOTTEN DISTRICT ATTORNEY - Ventura County ...

PROSECUTORS WhO hAVE
TAkEN ThE BENCh
Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
the honorABLe nAncY L. AYerS
Ventura County Superior Court Judge
The honorable nancy L. Ayers obtained her undergraduate degree from the university of the
Pacific in 1980 in French and international relations and her doctorate of jurisprudence from Santa
clara university School of Law in 1983.
Shortly after graduating, nancy returned to the central Valley, where she worked for a general
practice law firm. in March 1984, she joined the Ventura county District Attorney’s office,
eventually promoting to supervising deputy district attorney and senior deputy district attorney.
nancy received the District Attorney’s Prosecutor of the Year award in 1990.
While working for the District Attorney’s office, in 1996 nancy began participating in Guide
Dogs of America, raising and training guide dogs to assist those with disabilities. her passion for
working to improve the lives of those with disabilities spilled over into her work as a prosecutor,
leading her to establish several innovative programs within the District Attorney’s office designed to provide the disabled with greater
access to the criminal justice system.
in 2007, nancy left the Ventura county District Attorney’s office after 23 years of service to return to Fresno county as a deputy district
attorney. in 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed nancy to the Ventura county Superior court as a superior court judge,
where she presides over criminal trials and preliminary hearings.
the honorABLe JeFFreY G. Bennett
Ventura County Superior Court Judge
The honorable Jeffrey G. Bennett earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at california
State university Sacramento in 1978 and began his law enforcement career that same year as a
deputy sheriff with the Sacramento county Sheriff’s Department. he later joined the university of
california Police in 1980.
Jeff received a juris doctorate from the Santa Barbara college of Law in 1988 and joined the
Ventura county District Attorney’s office in January 1989 as a deputy district attorney. in April
1990, he assumed the responsibility of directing the District Attorney’s Auto insurance Fraud unit.
Jeff was promoted to Major Fraud Supervisor in 1993. in that capacity, he managed all complex
fraud cases, special prosecutions, political corruption, and worker’s compensation fraud cases.
in May 1994, Jeff was appointed chief deputy district attorney in charge of the Bureau of investigation.
During his 13-year tenure as a chief deputy district attorney, Jeff also had responsibility for the child Support, Administration, and
Special Prosecutions divisions.
Jeff was honored with the Knights of columbus Prosecutor of the Year award for outstanding service in public safety in 1990 and again
in April 2002. he also received the District Attorney’s Prosecutor of the Year award in 1990.
on June 3, 2008, Jeff won election to the Ventura county Superior court and took the bench on January 5, 2009. As a superior court
judge, Jeff has presided over criminal trials and preliminary hearings, as well as various calendar courtrooms.
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