Melissa Kiniyalocts ( She/Her )

Melissa Kiniyalocts joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2001.  For the first 22 years in the Office, her practice focused on civil litigation representing the County and its employees in civil rights, employment, and tort cases.  Melissa has tried cases in state and federal courts and has handled appeals before the Sixth District Court of Appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the California Supreme Court.  As Lead of the Civil Rights, Tort, and Employment Litigation team, Melissa advised the County Counsel/Sheriff’s Office investigator on investigations of significant incidents that occurred throughout the County and provided legal advice with regard to processing, investigating, and responding to all government claims served on the County.  In 2023, Melissa transitioned to the Jail Reform and Custody Operations and the Health and Hospitals teams.  Melissa provides advice on a variety of issues related to the jails and jail reform, including work on two consent decrees involving numerous aspects of the jails.  Melissa also advises Custody Health Services, which provides medical and mental health care at County jails and juvenile detention facilities.  Further, Melissa represents the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office, which provides forensic pathology services for the entire county, and the Santa Clara County Library District, including the 11-member Joint Powers Authority Board.  Melissa’s professional expertise includes civil litigation, the Government Claims Act, California Public Records Act, Ralph M. Brown Act, Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, library laws, including First Amendment and privacy, and health care in correctional settings.  

Office practice areas

• Jail Reform and Custody Operations Team 
• Health and Hospitals Team 

Education

Professional associations