Latest Vote Count Shows Private Attorney Ahead by More Than 3,000 Votes
Local attorney Luis Esparza holds a lead over 86-year-old incumbent Judge Thomas Adams, Jr. in the race for Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge, Office 2, according to the latest vote tally released by the Santa Barbara County Elections Office on June 11, 2026.
Esparza has received 46,899 votes, representing 51.50 percent of the ballots counted, while Adams trails with 43,894 votes, or 48.20 percent—a margin of more than 3,000 votes.
The lead is expected to hold allowing Esparza to unseat one of the longest-serving judges in Santa Barbara County history. Judge Adams, who turns 86 this month, has presided over local courtrooms for approximately 50 years.
A Five-Decade Judicial Career
Judge Adams’ path to the bench followed an unconventional route. Born in Iowa City, Iowa in 1940 and raised in the small town of Wellman, population 1,000, where his father was the only attorney for miles, Adams moved to the Oregon coast in 1952.
While studying at Willamette University in Oregon, Adams and three fraternity brothers launched a recording career with R.C.A. Victor Records. For several years, the group toured internationally as the folk-singing quartet “The Wayfarers.”
Adams eventually returned to academics, completing studies at California State University Northridge before earning his law degree at California Western School of Law, where he served as Associate Editor of the Law Journal.
In 1976, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Adams as the first Commissioner of the Santa Barbara Municipal Court. During his lengthy tenure, Adams received the County Bar’s Distinguished Service Award and established programs including “Teen Court” and “Children in the Middle,” which assists divorcing parents.
Adams currently presides over Department 8 in the Santa Barbara Figueroa Division.
Controversy and Public Censure
The campaign unfolded against the backdrop of a 2024 public reprimand issued to Judge Adams by the Commission on Judicial Performance, California’s judicial oversight body.
According to the Commission’s findings, previously reported by Edhat, Adams exhibited inappropriate conduct during court proceedings, including displaying anger and impatience with a defendant’s counsel during an arraignment. The judge reportedly raised his voice, stood up from the bench provocatively, cast off his glasses while pointing at the counsel, and threw motion papers that landed in front of where the attorney stood.
The censure was compounded by what the Commission characterized as misleading statements from Adams. He initially informed the Commission of his impending retirement and indicated he had already served his final day on the bench, promising not to return. However, Adams did not retire and resumed his duties before the Commission released its findings. Adams had also publicly stated plans to retire in 2023.
Esparza Campaigns on Court Efficiency
Esparza, 46, has practiced law in Santa Barbara County for more than 22 years, representing clients in business disputes, family law matters, and criminal cases.
His campaign has centered on reducing court backlogs and expediting hearings. In a recent opinion letter, Esparza outlined the human toll of delayed justice.
“In our community, families sometimes wait years for a housing dispute to determine whether they can remain in their homes,” Esparza wrote. “Small businesses find themselves paralyzed by litigation that stretches on far too long. Parents in family-law matters endure many months—sometimes years—without clarity about their children’s futures. In my experience, justice delayed truly is justice denied.”
Esparza pointed to declining court performance metrics to support his case for change.
“Although Santa Barbara Superior Court calendars have contracted in overall volume over the course of my legal career, backlogs for contested civil cases, misdemeanors, and felonies have grown substantially,” he stated. “Today, only 66 percent of unlimited civil cases are resolved within 24 months, misdemeanors reach just 41 percent within 30 days, and felonies only 59 percent within one year—significantly slower than the plus-80-percent performance of two decades ago.”
What’s Next
Superior Court judges in California are elected by county voters for six-year terms during midterm election years. Candidates must have at least 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney or judge to qualify for the bench.
The Santa Barbara County Elections Office continues to process remaining ballots. Whoever prevails in the race will begin their term in January 2027.
Also Read
- Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Santa Barbara Rent Freeze, Allows Property Owners to Amend Claims
- Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta Brings Message of Hope, Activism to Santa Barbara
- SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set to launch from Vandenberg Thursday; sonic booms possible
- California colleges reveal their military weapons stockpile after CalMatters investigation
- The Impact Of Toxic Work Culture On Employee Turnover, Well-Being
Adams egoism has always been prevalent. This time he just took it too far. By refusing to gracefully step down he deprived the Governor from appointing a successor. (Note this is how he got his job to begin with.) We are in strong need of age limits on elected positions, especially judicial ones. (Please note that Adams could have stepped down and served by assignment for an indefinite period of time had he been willing to let go. Most of his peers have taken that route.)
Love Judge Adams. He officiated our wedding way back in the 90*s. But it’s time to hang it up sir, let the next generation take it from here bud.
Adams should have retired 10 years ago. Ridiculous how the older generation thinks they’re still an effective part of the workforce in their 80s and 90s. He doesn’t need to work, he wants to for his own ego. Glad we have someone younger in there now, although I’m suspicious of his political support from the Republican Party.
SBSURFER – ” Ridiculous how the older generation thinks they’re still an effective part of the workforce in their 80s and 90s.”
That’s a pretty agest and not cool thing to say, honestly. There are plenty of brilliant adults in their 80s who are more productive, qualified and yeah, even “effective” than folks in their 20s and 30s. Advanced aged experts shouldn’t be shunned and dismissed as ridiculous like your attitude suggests.
As to Judge Adams in particular, yeah, maybe time to hang it up. But the blanket disparagement of older professionals is just lame.
Adams is not working as a Walmart greeter because he needs health insurance. I would not want an 86 year old deciding the fate of a court judgement for anyone I care about.
Not ageist, realistic. Anyone over 75 should not be working and should enjoy retirement. It’s a shame our country doesn’t prioritize the health and care of our elderly so they can safely and financially retire.
Well, I stand by what I’ve said. Calling elderly “ridiculous” is not OK in my book. Hopefully, I’m not the only one who thinks so.