The Sikh and legal communities packed Fresno City Hall on Thursday, honoring one of their own. Raj Badhesha is now a judge.

In a special ceremony, 28 judges from multiple jurisdictions held an honorary session to enrobe Badhesha, 40, and swear him in as a judge. Coming from the Fresno City Attorney’s Office, Badhesha becomes the first Sikh judge in the county’s history, and the first judge in the state’s history to wear a turban, known as the Dastar or Pagri.

“There are more people here today than there are at a Taylor Swift concert,” joked Herbert Levy, a justice with the Fresno-based Fifth District Court of Appeal.

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Levy swore Badhesha in as the newest Fresno County Superior Court judge. Badhesha’s wife and mother helped enrobe him.

“Wanting to be a judge and run a courtroom was something that I grew into,” Badhesha said. “When I began my journey in the law nearly two decades ago as a law student, a practicing Sikh like myself could not gain admission into a courthouse, let alone dream of donning a black robe and being a proverbial protector of the scales of justice.”

One problem was carrying a kirpan, a religious object that resembles a small sword. Badhesha’s boss at the time, Ken Manock — of the law firm Baker Manock and Jensen, where Badhesha worked out of law school — wrote the court a letter, explaining the situation. The presiding judge at the time, Hilary Chittick, understood and allowed Badhesha to practice law in the courthouse while adhering to this faith.

“It is my hope moving forward that the Sikh youngsters present here today know that they can use this as an example and that they can aspire to serve this county, this state and this nation in any position they wish to pursue,” Badhesha said.

Enrobing ceremony for new #Fresno County Superior Court Judge Raj Badhesha, first #Sikh judge in the county, and first turban-wearing judge in the state. pic.twitter.com/GTgE63l16n

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) July 11, 2024

Inspiration to the Community

Naindeep Singh, executive director of the Jakara Movement, and elected trustee with the Central Unified School District, explained what Badhesha’s accomplishments mean to the Sikh community.

“I think for many of us, we had just never seen people with our names that look like us, and in these particular positions that are of service and duty for the greater county, the state, or even the nation. And so I think for younger generations, it inspires them that anything’s possible,” Singh said.

Several speakers praised Badhesha’s judicial skills. After earning his Juris Doctor from Hastings Law School (now known as UC College of Law, San Francisco), Badhesha clerked at the Fifth District Court of Appeal. He practiced at Baker Manock and Jensen, from 2008 to 2012.

Bashesha then went to work for the city of Fresno, often providing counsel from the dais to the city council during meetings.

Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Badhesha to the bench in May. Born and raised in Fresno County, the Sanger High and Fresno State graduate starts orientation on Monday. He will eventually serve on the bench handling misdemeanor cases.

This is Newsom’s 14th appointment in the county. Badhesha replaces Jon Kapetan, who retired last year. He faces election in 2026.

With the appointment, Fresno County now has 46 of its 47 bench seats filled. Newsom still needs to replace Timothy Kams, who retired last year.