It is with great sadness that the Ventura Superior Court announces the death of the Honorable Ryan J. Wright, Judge of the Superior Court. He passed away on September 24, 2025, after a long illness. He was 53 years old.
Judge Wright was elected to the Superior Court by Ventura County voters on June 8, 2010, and was sworn into office on January 3, 2011. Before his hospitalization in August 2025, he served as the Assistant Presiding Judge. For many years before that, Judge Wright served as the Supervising Judge of the Criminal Division, in which capacity he presided over the Court’s Criminal Master Calendar. In his 13-year career on the bench, Judge Wright presided over hundreds of jury trials, many involving the most serious and high-profile criminal cases.
Judge Wright was born and raised in the City of Ventura. He attended Saint Bonaventure High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine in 1994, and his Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1997. While at Pepperdine, Judge Wright was elected to the position of Honor Board President. He served as an adjunct professor and student mentor for Pepperdine University School of Law during his entire time on the bench.
Judge Wright began his career in public service as a Reserve Deputy Probation Officer for the County of Los Angeles while he was a law student. During that time, he spent countless hours counseling violent juvenile offenders. It was also during that time that he clerked at both the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Upon his graduation from law school in 1997, Judge Wright was offered a full-time position as a Deputy District Attorney in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. He was promoted to Senior Deputy District Attorney in 2007.
During his years as a prosecutor, Judge Wright served in the misdemeanor, felony, sexual assault, domestic violence, and narcotics units. He was also assigned full-time to the Thousand Oaks Police Station for two years as the community prosecutor. Judge Wright received several awards as one of the top narcotics prosecutors in the state and in the nation by the United States Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the California Narcotics Association. He was also honored twice as Ventura County Prosecutor of the Year.
Judge Wright served as a mentor for several judges and was known for his passionate commitment to judicial ethics, fairness, and impartiality. He was instrumental in the Court’s implementation of important efficiencies, including improvements to criminal case management and jury selection.
Judge Wright dedicated his life to public service. He believed that serving as a judge is a great honor and privilege that must be respected through hard work and dedication to the law, justice, and the communities the Court serves.
Judge Wright’s passing is a tremendous loss for the Court. He leaves, however, an enduring legacy of excellence to which the judicial officers and staff of the Court shall always aspire.
