Ex-Kern prosecutor selected as Ventura County Superior Court commissioner

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern County native and former prosecutor Courtney Lewis has been selected as the newest commissioner of Ventura County Superior Court, according to a court release.

Lewis worked at the Kern County District Attorney’s Office from 2011 to 2020, winning Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Outstanding Prosecutor Award and the Mary Swallow Prosecutor of the Year Award.

Since 2020, she has worked as a senior deputy district attorney at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Lewis earned a law degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Lamar University in Texas.

She is married to Kern County Supervising Deputy Public Defender Benjamin Nkwonta.

Court commissioners hear matters including family law, child support services, criminal and small claims. Lewis will start Monday and hear traffic matters, according to the release.

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