Profile of Denise Hippach

Justice Hippach is an Associate Justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Six. She was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom and unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments in August 2026.

Justice Hippach began her legal career as a prosecutor with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. There, she handled a variety of adult and juvenile misdemeanor and felony cases. In 2007, Justice Hippach transitioned to juvenile dependency law where she practiced in some capacity until 2022. In 2012, Judge Hippach obtained her license to practice law in Idaho and worked for the Idaho Attorney General’s office. As a Deputy Attorney General, she handled cases involving civil discovery and litigation, child protection, and other health and welfare issues. As an attorney, Justice Hippach also handled cases at the appellate level and argued before appellate courts in both California and Idaho. 

In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Justice Hippach to the Santa Barbara County Superior Court where she presided over criminal, civil, family law, and probate cases. From 2025-2026, she served as Supervising Judge of the criminal division in Santa Maria. She is the first African American judge in Santa Barbara County history.

Justice Hippach is committed to community outreach and service. She has taught education courses for judicial officers and appellate advocacy at San Luis Obispo College of Law. She serves on the Central Coast Judicial Selection Advisory Committee and the Judicial Council’s Criminal Law Curriculum Committee. Justice Hippach is a member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers and the California Judges Association. She regularly mentors and speaks to students and lawyers about the judiciary.

Justice Hippach graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and received her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.