Two Former Prosecutors Face Off for Fresno County Superior Court Seat
Ashley Paulson and Steven Ueltzen — both former colleagues in the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office — are running for Fresno County Superior Court judge position No. 6.
Paulson led the June primary with 47.07% of the vote. Ueltzen took 29.49%.
Paulson spent a decade as a deputy district attorney prosecuting violent criminals. In 2019, she won the Courageous Prosecutor of the Year Award for her work on the Violent Crime Unit. In 2025, Paulson joined the Fresno City Attorney’s Office, where she is a chief assistant city attorney and chief prosecuting attorney.
Ueltzen is a senior deputy district attorney with more than 15 years of legal experience in both civil and criminal matters. He is the lead prosecutor in the DA’s DUI Unit, prosecuting major-injury and fatal DUI collisions. He has twice received Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Outstanding Prosecutor award.
Paulson’s endorsements include Mayor Jerry Dyer, the Fresno Police Officers Association, the Fresno Deputy Sheriffs Association, and the Valley Young Republicans.
Ueltzen’s endorsements include the Fresno County Prosecutors Association, the Clovis Police Officers Association, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez, and Debra Gerard Miller, former chief deputy district attorney.
The Breakdown
- Both candidates are former colleagues from the Fresno County DA’s Office.
- Paulson now works for the Fresno City Attorney’s Office.
- Ueltzen still works in the DA’s Office as lead prosecutor of the DUI Unit.
- Paulson got the most votes in the June primary with 47.07%.
What This Means for You
Your vote decides who sits on the Fresno County Superior Court bench for this seat. One candidate still works for the DA, the other for the city attorney. That’s the choice voters have in this race.
What You Can Do
Research the candidates, then vote.
What to Watch
Both candidates built their careers as prosecutors. A judge is supposed to be neutral — someone who has only ever argued one side might see cases differently than someone who has argued both. That’s worth considering before you vote.
