san mateo county superior court judicial assignments

Judge of the Superior Court

Northern Court 1050 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Southern Court 400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063

Juvenile Court 222 Paul Scannell Drive, San Mateo, CA 94402

Website: http://www.sanmateocourt.org/

(6-Year Term, Next Election: March 2024, Elected by all voters in San Mateo County)

• Judge Donald Ayoob 650.261.5127 T
• Judge Jeffrey B. Jackson  650.261.5110 T
• Judge Leland Davis 650.261.5101 T
• Judge Robert D. Foiles 650.261.5121 T
• Judge John L. Grandsaert (retired March 3, 2023)  
• Judge Lisa A. Novak 650.261.5113 T
• Judge V. Raymond Swope 650.261.5123 T
• Judge Susan I. Etezadi 650.261.5118 T
• Judge Elizabeth K. Lee 650.261.5117 T
• Judge Nicole S. Healy 650.261.5128 T
• Judge Renee C. Reyna 650.261.5116 T

(6-Year Term, Next Election: June 2026, Elected by all voters in San Mateo County)

• Judge Nancy L. Fineman 650.261.5104 T
• Judge Don R. Franchi 650.261.5115 T
• Judge Stephanie Garratt 650.261.5109 T
• Judge Susan L. Greenberg 650.261.5103 T
• Judge Elizabeth M. Hill 650.261.5112 T
• Judge Jonathan E. Karesh 650.261.5120 T
• Judge Susan M. Jakubowski 650.261.5107 T
• Judge Amarra A. Lee 650.261.5119 T
• Judge Nina Shapirshteyn 650.261.5111 T

(6-Year Term, Next Election: June 2028, Elected by all voters in San Mateo County)

• Judge Sean P. Dabel 650.261.5126 T
• Judge Sharon Cho 650.261.5125 T
• Judge Marie S. Weiner 650.261.5102 T
• Judge Jeffrey Finigan 650.261.5124 T
• Judge Rachel Holt 650.261.5114 T
• Judge Michael K. Wendler 650.261.5108 T
• Judge Kevin E. Dunleavy 650.261.5106 T
• Judge Chinhayi C. Cadet 650.261.5105 T

Sign up to receive Ballotpedia's daily newsletter

Please complete the Captcha above

Ballotpedia on Facebook

  Share this page

  Follow Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia on Twitter

Superior court of san mateo county, california, superior court.

The Superior Court of San Mateo County is one of 58 Superior Courts in California .

[1]

Former judges

• Clifford V. Cretan
• Mark R. Forcum
• Stephen M. Hall
• George A. Miram

Judicial selection

The method of judicial selection for the California Superior Courts is officially nonpartisan election of judges , though many judges join the court via gubernatorial appointment . Once judges are appointed, they compete in the next general election following appointment.

If an incumbent Superior Court judge files for re-election and draws no opponent, that race does not appear on the ballot. If the race is contested, the candidate who wins more than 50% of the vote is elected. If no candidate receives more than 50%, the top two compete in a runoff in the general election in November. [2]

• San Mateo County, California
• California Superior Courts

External links

• Website of the Superior Court of San Mateo County
• California Courts , "Trial Court Roster"
• The Daily Journal , "Court cuts create 'justice delayed'," April 2, 2012

Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of California , Eastern District of California , Northern District of California , Southern District of California • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California , Eastern District of California , Northern District of California , Southern District of California

State courts:

California Supreme Court • California Courts of Appeal • California Superior Courts

State resources:

Courts in California • California judicial elections • Judicial selection in California

California is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in California, click here .

• California local trial court judicial elections, 2024
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2023
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2022
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2021
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2020
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2019
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2018
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2017
• California local trial court judicial elections, 2016
• California judicial elections, 2014
• California judicial elections, 2012
• California judicial elections, 2010

Selection method

The 1,535 judges of the California Superior Courts compete in nonpartisan races in even-numbered years. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in the June primary election, he or she is declared the winner; if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff between the top two candidates is held during the November general election. [3] [4] [5] [6]

If an incumbent judge is running unopposed in an election, his or her name does not appear on the ballot. The judge is automatically re-elected following the general election. [3]

The chief judge of any given superior court is selected by peer vote of the court's members. He or she serves in that capacity for one or two years, depending on the county. [3]

Qualifications Candidates are required to have 10 years of experience as a law practitioner or as a judge of a court of record. [3]

Election rules

Primary election.

Only candidates for the superior courts compete in primary elections.

• If a superior court judge runs unopposed for re-election, his or her name does not appear on the ballot and he or she is automatically re-elected following the general election. [7] [8]
• Write-in candidates may file to run against an incumbent within 10 days after the filing deadline passes if they are able to secure enough signatures (between 100 and 600, depending on the number of registered voters in the county). In that case, the incumbent would appear on the general election ballot along with an option to vote for a write-in candidate. [8]
• In contested races, the candidate who receives a majority of all the votes in the primary wins the election. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the primary, the top two compete in the November general election. [9]

General election

• Superior court candidates who advance from the primary election compete in the general election.
• Superior court incumbents facing competition from write-in candidates appear on the ballot. [8] [9]
• ↑ California Courts , "Trial Courts Roster," accessed December 15, 2014
• ↑ Los Angeles Times , "Safeguarding California's judicial election process," August 21, 2011
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 American Judicature Society , "Methods of Judicial Selection: California," archived October 2, 2014
• ↑ California Elections Code , "Section 8203," accessed May 21, 2014
• ↑ California Elections Code , "Section 8140-8150," accessed May 21, 2014
• ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 California Elections Code, "Section 8203," accessed April 22, 2014
• ↑ 9.0 9.1 California Elections Code, "Section 8140-8150," accessed April 22, 2014
• California superior courts
• San Mateo County California, Superior Court

Ballotpedia features 558,625 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Click here to contact our editorial staff or report an error . For media inquiries, contact us here . Please donate here to support our continued expansion.

Information about voting

• Your 2024 Election Toolkit
• What's on my ballot?
• Where do I vote?
• How do I register to vote?
• How do I request a ballot?
• When do I vote?
• When are polls open?
• Who Represents Me?

2024 Elections

• 2024 Presidential election
• 2024 Presidential candidates
• 2024 Congressional elections
• 2024 Ballot measures
• 2024 State executive elections
• 2024 State legislative elections
• 2024 State judge elections
• 2024 Local elections
• 2024 School board elections

2024 Election analysis

• 2024 elections analysis hub
• Pivot Counties in the 2024 presidential election
• New members elected to Congress
• Incumbents defeated in state legislative elections
• State legislative seats that changed party control
• Ballot measure trends in 2024
• 2024 general election voter turnout
• Wave elections in 2024

2025 Elections

• State executives
• State legislatures
• Ballot measures
• State judges
• Municipal officials
• School boards
• 2024 Election results
• Ballotpedia's top 15 ballot measures and trends to watch in 2024
• Ballotpedia News

Public Policy

• Administrative state
• Criminal justice policy
• Education policy
• Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
• Unemployment insurance
• Work requirements
• Policy in the states

Information for candidates

• Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey
• How do I run for office?
• How do I update a page?
• Election results
• Send us candidate contact info

Get Engaged

• Donate to Ballotpedia
• Report an error
• Newsletters
• Ballotpedia Podcast
• Ballotpedia Boutique
• Media inquiries
• Premium Research Services

Additional analysis

• Election legislation tracking
• State Trifectas
• State Triplexes
• Redistricting
• Pivot Counties
• State Supreme Court Partisanship
• Polling indexes

SITE NAVIGATION

• 2024 Election results hub
• Comparison of state delegations to the 118th and 119th Congresses
• Congressional margin of victory analysis
• Congressional elections decided by 10 percentage points or fewer
• State legislative veto-proof majorities
• State legislative margin of victory analysis
• State legislative races decided by fewer than 100 votes
• Analysis of voter turnout in the 2024 general election
• Special Congressional elections (2023-2024)
• Ballotpedia's top 15 elections to watch in 2024
• Ballotpedia's top 15 ballot measures to watch in 2024
• Upcoming elections
• 2025 Statewide primary dates
• 2025 State executive elections
• 2025 State legislative elections
• 2025 Local elections
• 2025 School board elections
• 2025 Ballot measures
• Donald Trump's cabinet nominees
• How cabinet nominees are confirmed
• Cabinet officials
• Executive orders and actions
• Key legislation
• Judicial nominations
• White House senior staff
• U.S. President
• U.S. Congress
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Federal courts
• State government
• Municipal government
• Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot
• Ballotpedia's 2024 Voter Toolkit
• Election policy
• Running for office
• Ballotpedia's weekly podcast
• About Ballotpedia
• Editorial independence
• Job opportunities
• News and events
• Privacy policy
• Disclaimers

Superior Court of San Mateo – Court Updates

Northern Branch Assignment Order

Effective november 6, 2023.

Honorable Rebecca L. Woodson shall act as a Traffic, Small Claims, Criminal, and Family Support Court Commissioner in South San Francisco.

Click here to learn more.

2024 Judicial Assignment Order

Effective january 2, 2024.

Review the list of assignments for 2024.

Categorized in: Court Notices

Popular Keywords

Nothing was found. Try another keyword.

Personalized Solutions. Effortless Experience. File Thru Trial ™.

• Company About Us Learn more about what sets First Legal apart. Meet Our Team Get to know the experts that will handle your needs. Careers   Client Care & Success   File Thru Trial™   Our Locations  
• Court & Process
• Depositions
• Investigations
• Trial Support Services
• Corporate Programs
• Resources Court Information Court Updates Forms & Resources MCLEs & Webinars Blog Case Studies FAQ
• GET STARTED

Home » Court News

Sign up to receive important weekly court news and updates!

" * " indicates required fields

Latest Court News

• To read, click the title to see the full notice.

• You can also use the search bar to filter the titles by keywords or dates.

Attention Contra Costa County Filers:

Please be advised that Contra Costa Superior Court, Probate Division is currently experiencing an eFiling service disruption processing transactions.

The Contra Costa Probate team has asked that all new probate filings be submitted over the counter or in person due to their eFiling disruption until further notice.

If anyone has an existing transaction that needs immediate attention, please print the confirmation page, including the court’s transaction number, and submit in paper, over the counter. The court will file the documents as of the original submission date.

First Legal, your premier litigation support provider.

Welcome to Firstconnect!

The FirstConnect you know and love is now even better, featuring enhanced capabilities and a streamlined interface for effortless navigation. 

If you are a Records Retrieval client and do not have an existing FirstConnect account, you can click her e to access your records.

Judicial Branch of California

2024 judicial assignments order, media: files.

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading. If you wish to help us in these difficult financial times, you can purchase a subscription below (including ad removal) and/or contribute at sm-dj.com/donate.--> To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.

remaining of

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.

Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.

Premium Subscription

Support the Peninsula’s only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe!

Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions.

As low as $8.25 per week

Premium Includes:

-- Access to the Daily Journal’s e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time.

-- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content

-- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community

-- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week!

Basic Subscription

DJ Basic Subscription

As low as $5 per week

Basic includes:

What you're missing -- Additional features available only with the Premium level:

All for as low as $8.25 per month.

Sorry , no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Sorry , an error occurred.

do not remove

• Saved items

San Mateo, CA (94402)

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.

Updated: December 23, 2024 @ 5:57 pm

• Full Forecast

Stephanie Garratt

• Copy article link

From the Daily Journal archives

Before the court.

Susan Cohn, Daily Journal Senior Correspondent

Senior Correspondent

• Author email
• Sep 21, 2024

San Mateo County Superior Court Bench elects the Honorable Stephanie G. Garratt Presiding Judge for 2025.

On Sept. 13, the San Mateo County Superior Court bench elected the Honorable Stephanie G. Garratt as the court’s next presiding judge. Garratt served as a commissioner from 2004 through 2014, and was appointed as judge in January of 2015. In addition to serving as assistant presiding judge, Garratt is assigned as a trial judge and supervises the commissioners and pro tem judges for the court. The Honorable Elizabeth K. Lee, current presiding judge, said: “Judge Garratt is an experienced judicial officer on our bench who is well qualified to serve as the court’s next presiding judge. In addition to being our current assistant presiding judge, she serves on the Executive Committee and is the supervising judge of the commissioners. She has also served as the criminal presiding judge and has presided over a wide range of criminal matters, including high profile homicide cases.” Judge Garratt’s term as the court’s presiding judge begins on Jan. 2, 2025.

Susan E. Cohn is a member of the State Bar of California. She may be contacted at [email protected] .

Susan Cohn is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and the State Bar of California She may be reached at [email protected] .

• California Superior Courts
• Separation Of Powers
• Judiciaries
• Government Institutions
• Political Law
• Constitutional Law
• Public Sphere
• Legal Organizations

Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Followed notifications

Please log in to use this feature, recommended for you, post a comment as guest.

• [whistling]
• [tongue_smile]
• [thumbdown]
• [happybirthday]

Your comment has been submitted.

There was a problem reporting this.

Watch this discussion. Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments, welcome to the discussion..

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.

Already a subscriber? Login Here

Trending Stories

• Bridge tolls heading to $11.50 in San Mateo County
• San Mateo eyes new electric mandates
• Arguments for San Mateo County sheriff removal measure are in
• Redwood City's Woodside Road/101 revamp expected to be done in 2030
• Sexual assault victim sues DA and San Mateo County
• Caltrain, San Mateo County leaders scope transit measure options
• Crestmoor demo begins; new housing to be built in San Bruno
• San Mateo was way ahead of the pack
• Deputy union president cleared in San Mateo County
• San Mateo County sheriff responds to charges being dropped for alleged inmate sexual assault
• More trouble with Trump (28)
• ‘When Want is keenly felt’ (19)
• No magic bullet for lowering PG&E rates (17)
• Mass deportations are personal (14)
• Biden pardon (14)
• Hunter Biden pardon is justified (13)
• Get over it (12)
• Congratulations to all the new and returning councilmembers and school board trustees (12)
• Thankful (11)
• Meet San Mateo’s new ‘presumed’ Mayor Newsom (11)
• Every country has the government it deserves (11)
• Biden should not allow Trump to become president (11)
• We will all be whining soon (9)
• Support regionally coordinated transit funding (9)
• You Democrats (8)
• Support homeowner consent (8)
• An effort to recall sheriff underway (6)
• Move on (5)
• What red wave? (5)
• Deputy union president cleared in San Mateo County (5)
• Local Dems don’t understand (5)
• Power of money in politics (5)
• Redwood Shores raccoon attack builds new call for awareness (5)
• Notes, quotes and charter dust motes (5)
• Trump did it to himself (5)
• We’ve earned equality — now let us have it (5)
• Recall talk in San Mateo (4)
• Intersection at Poplar still remains a hazard (4)
• A few thoughts (4)
• Giving thanks, Giving Tuesday (4)
• The cost of Trump’s immigration plan and more (4)
• Proximity to Stanford is gene pool advantage (4)
• Weird selections (4)
• Maintaining our own democracy (4)
• Bike lanes in North Central still an issue (4)
• Hey, brother (4)
• Redwood City Council transitions Monday (3)
• Trump won the election (3)
• Prioritize comprehensive immigration reform (3)
• Free college tuition (3)
• San Mateo eyes new electric mandates (3)
• Pass the Energy Permitting Reform Act (3)
• Getting back to basics (3)
• All I Want for Christmas ... (3)
• Bringing loneliness into the light during holidays (3)
• How to end the war in Ukraine (3)
• Burlingame EV chargers broken for months (3)
• Why did Harris fail? (3)
• Punished for using gas (3)
• Fatal collision reignites call for pedestrian bridge in San Carlos (3)
• What do Latinos think of Trump? (3)
• God bless Donald Trump (3)
• What’s love got to do with it? (3)
• Election results (3)
• A reminder about Trump (2)
• A true chance for peace — only without Hamas (2)
• So disappointed (2)
• Ghost bike honors life lost in San Carlos (2)
• Who was really running the country the past few years? (2)
• Opportunity to remake Syria (2)
• Housing reforms will help state tackle living costs. Berkeley might show us how (2)
• Worldwide government debt crisis (2)
• Supervisors take a page from the McConnell/Trump playbook (2)
• Caltrain, San Mateo County leaders scope transit measure options (2)
• San Mateo Union High School District studies budget (2)
• Russia's Putin holds talks with Slovakian PM Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader (2)
• Appeals court removes prosecutor Fani Willis from Georgia election case against Trump (2)
• Look for big money measures in 2025 (2)
• Ceasefire (2)
• San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office investigating sexual assault in correctional facility (2)
• Districting is bad for Millbrae, councilmembers say (2)
• Getting serious about geese in Foster City (2)
• Some Democrats are frustrated over Joe Biden reversing course and pardoning his son Hunter (2)
• The high life (2)
• Santa’s gas-free chimney adventure (2)
• Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration (2)
• Destigmatizing menopause (2)
• Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table (2)
• San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa seeks ferry service funding
 (2)
• Redwood City's Woodside Road/101 revamp expected to be done in 2030 (2)
• The playing field isn’t uneven, it’s broken — here’s how to fix it (2)
• The decline of activism in music (2)
• Senior housing, wellness hub called off (2)
• California politicians suddenly discover inflation in aftermath of election (2)
• Who’s to blame? (2)
• The best list ever of the best Christmas movies (2)
• Thank you for showing up (2)
• Hamas responsible for deaths (1)
• San Mateo County Transportation Authority awarding $26.8M for pedestrian, bicycle and congestion relief projects  (1)
• Berman looks to expedite future election results in San Mateo County and state (1)
• Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders (1)
• A year in review (1)
• Peace is far cheaper (1)
• Ethnic studies remain unfunded (1)

Featured Events

AnastasiaAn amazing journey about home, love and familyAnastasia is a sweeping and enchantin… Read more Anastasia

Winter Skate at Domenico Winery

Winter Roller Skating at Domenico Winery in San Carlos. Skate rentals, skate instruction, be… Read more Winter Skate at Domenico Winery

Latest News

• AP News in Brief at 9:04 p.m. EST
• Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs
• 3 fall into ocean after California wharf partially collapses due to heavy surf from major storm
• Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway
• Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal
• Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use
• Raiders GM Tom Telesco's job: Get the QB position fixed
• Penguins captain Sydney Crosby ties Mario Lemieux's franchise record for assists

Recent Comments on our Stories

The part deemed unaffordable were the market-rate units, not the affordable housing.

Ray Fowler said:

MichKosk said:

edkahl said:

Latest e-Edition

San mateo daily journal.

• To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left.

The Daily Journal in your inbox

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Breaking News

If it breaks, we'll send it to you.

Join this email list to be kept abreast of breaking news.

Sign up today!

Daily Headlines

Wake up to our carefully curated list of headlines with the Daily Journal's daily newsletter.

All the top stories -- local news, local sports, lifestyle, opinions, obituaries, entertainment, plus regional/national/global info to keep you informed. Newsletter arrives every morning for your convenience.

Marketing and Business Intelligence

Would you like to receive our Marketing and Business Intelligence  newsletter? The Daily Journal is proud to offer a newsletter providing vital information that will benefit your career, your business, and/or your organization.

Daily Journal Sports

Get updates on LOCAL SPORTS !

All the latest and greatest local sports headlines straight to your inbox. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, the Daily Journal will send you links to our best local sports stories.

Sign up now!

Submit An Event

If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now!

Latest Classified Ads

Sepanta electric, heating & air conditioning, osmar alejandro painting, several cats available for adoption, free metal file cabinets, chevrolet '73 nova, imogen one g-4 oxygen concentrator, lugger + hauling.