Pursuant to Section 1 of Article XI of the California Constitution and Section 26500 of the California Government Code, The District Attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal acts that occur in Kern County in violation of state laws and county ordinances.

Now Hiring

Our office is currently hiring Attorneys, Paralegals, Law Student Interns, Post-Law School Graduate Law Clerks, and Clerical Positions.

Cynthia Zimmer, Kern County District Attorney

Cynthia Zimmer was elected Kern County District Attorney on June 5, 2018 and took office in January of 2019. Mrs. Zimmer is a native of Coalinga, California. She graduated from California State University Bakersfield in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Mrs. Zimmer received her juris doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 1984. She has been a prosecutor at the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for 35 years. Mrs. Zimmer has tried nearly every type of criminal case including narcotics, sex crimes and homicides. She was promoted to Supervising Deputy District Attorney over 20 years ago and spent 12 years supervising the District Attorney’s Gang Unit. Mrs. Zimmer has personally handled numerous high-profile cases including Kerry Hastings, a serial killer; Billy Ray Johnson, the “Eastside Rapist”; and Corey Johnson, who killed three people and attempted to kill several others in the longest gang trial in Kern County history. As District Attorney, Mrs. Zimmer is working to reduce violent crime in Kern County, provide better services to victims in rural areas, and keep the public informed about legislative changes that affect public safety.

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