Santa Barbara County Superior Court judges recently selected Darrel Parker to succeed retiring Court Executive Officer Gary Blair, effective July 1.
Blair, who’s leaving his post after 37 years with the county, will be handing off his duties to someone he believes is extremely capable and has the skills and expertise to get the job done.
“I can’t think of a better choice to succeed me,” Blair told the Sun.
Blair speaks from personal experience because Parker was his right-hand man for the last 14 years. Parker assumed the role of the assistant executive officer in 1999, and he’s served as Santa Barbara County chief deputy executive officer for the past five months.
When Parker first came to the county, Blair assigned him with the task of seamlessly merging the staffs of the North County Municipal and Superior court systems into one productive entity. Blair said Parker also successfully managed the construction of a juvenile court and the newly built clerk’s office, both in Santa Maria.
“Parker is a proven asset to the court, and I am looking forward to continuing a strong working relationship,” Superior Court Judge Arthur Garcia said in a press release. “Darren is well-liked and respected by his colleagues and peers.”
Parker has a bachelor’s degree from Drew University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. Before moving to Santa Barbara County, he worked with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He was involved in several high-profile cases, including the Rodney King, Heidi Fleiss, and O.J. Simpson trials.
“I am honored that the judges of Santa Barbara [County] Superior Court have put their trust in me to serve this court in a higher capacity,” Parker said in the release. “I look forward to working with the bench, the legal community, and the dedicated professional employees of this organization to serve the community and provide access to justice for all citizens, where they can resolve their disputes and reconcile relationships.”
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 4, 2013.