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Kendrick Wilson is a native Tucsonan and has called Tucson home for most of his life. His father was a union firefighter for 32 years and was a battalion chief. His mother was a teacher at Emily Gray Junior High. Judge Wilson graduated from Sahuaro High School and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a degree in political science. Judge Wilson graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2008. After graduating, he moved back to Tucson and passed the Arizona bar.
In 2010, Judge Wilson became a prosecutor with the Pima County Attorney's Office. He started out in the office's misdemeanor unit and handled DV and animal cases in the historic and beautiful Pima County Courthouse. After a year, he was re-assigned to the felony domestic violence unit and prosecuted severe DV and animal abuse cases.
In 2015, Judge Wilson was recruited by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe's Prosecutor's Office to serve as their VAWA prosecutor. During his time with the Tribe, he handled a variety of serious domestic violence cases involving Native survivors.
Meet Judge Kendrick Wilson
Violence Against Women Act
Judge Wilson was on the front lines in helping now-retired Judge Maria Felix create Pima County's Animal Welfare Court, the first of its kind in the nation. This specialty court identifies the most serious animal-related misdemeanors and focuses on early intervention to prevent offenders from graduating to more serious offenses.
Judge Wilson is proud to have obtained the first jury trial conviction nationwide of a non-Native person in a Tribal Court under the Violence Against Women Act when he was a Pascua Yaqui Tribal prosecutor. When he was with the Pima County Attorney's Office, he also obtained the first conviction under Arizona's non-fatal strangulation law. Domestic Violence cases are some of the most heavily litigated types of criminal cases seen, and their outcomes often hinge on a judge's understanding of State and Federal evidentiary rules and related case law. Because of his experience, Judge Wilson is regularly asked to provide training on issues related to domestic violence, including the issuance of orders of protection and the link between domestic violence and animal abuse.
Animal Welfare Court
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is an issue that affects far too many Arizonans. Judge Wilson is proud to have obtained the first trial conviction under Arizona's spousal rape law. This was a victory for women across our State, as it affirmed that no one - not even one's spouse - has the right to violate a person's body without their consent. Judge Wilson has been on the front lines of State and Tribal courts in the fight against all forms of domestic and sexual violence.
Judge Wilson is acutely aware of the lethality risk factors associated with domestic violence cases. He is one of two judges assigned to Pima County's specialty Domestic Violence Court. As a judge, he strives to promote victim safety, along with due process and fairness for the accused. Judge Wilson works closely with the Adult Probation Department and holds regular review hearings to ensure that offenders participate in meaningful batterer's intervention treatment and abide by conditions designed to keep domestic violence survivors safe. Judge Wilson's primary goal with the Domestic Violence Court is to make sure that people do not re-offend while helping survivors move forward with safe, just outcomes.
