Ex-Middie named Superior Court judge in California

‘Extremely special,’ former football player says of appointment.

A former standout football player at Middletown High School is making his mark in the judicial arena.

Ryan Wells, a 1998 MHS graduate who later played at Stanford University, was appointed last week to be a Superior Court judge by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“Today’s appointment is extremely special to my family and me because of all the hard work and sacrifices I made to get through law school, pass the bar, and prosecute complex criminal cases as a district attorney for over 10 years,” he told the Fresno Bee newspaper. “It was a challenging and rewarding adventure. The appointment gives me a feeling of accomplishment and excitement.”

Wells, 40, has served as a senior deputy district attorney at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office since 2012. He’s part of a special team of prosecutors who handle homicide cases.

The Democrat will fill the vacancy of a new position created Sept. 24, 2019.

District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp told the newspaper that as a prosecutor Wells has proven to be a “dedicated public servant with a keen sense of justice.”

His father, Isaac Wells, told the Journal-News his son is “an aggressive person” who sets and accomplishes goals.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes another major move in five or 10 years,” he said. “As a father, that’s something to be excited about.”

Wells will become one of five Black judges out of nearly 50 serving on the Superior Court bench in Fresno County. The Judicial Council of California, the policy-making body of the California courts, has made increasing the diversity of California’s judicial officers one of its goals.

Demographic data compiled by the council last year shows that 65% of judges in California are white, while Black judges

Ryan Wells

Wells