The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law proudly boasts a remarkable legacy, with over 400 alumni serving as distinguished judges in various jurisdictions. Among these, 159 have held or currently hold the position of trial judge.
Trial judges play a critical role in the judicial system, presiding over trial courts where they manage legal proceedings and uphold the principles of fair justice. Their responsibilities include handling motions to dismiss, determining the admissibility of evidence, overseeing trials, and resolving complex questions of law. In bench trials, trial judges also address questions of fact, issuing summary judgments in civil cases or delivering verdicts in criminal cases.
At the federal level, trial judges are referred to as district court judges, while each state has its own trial court system, tailored to meet its specific legal needs. The selection of trial judges often involves a combination of elections and gubernatorial appointments, particularly to fill vacancies.
Trial judges are essential to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process, ensuring that legal protocols are followed and that the rights of all parties are protected throughout the legal proceedings. Their work serves as the foundation for a fair and just legal system.
The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law is dedicated to providing a premier legal education, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue successful careers in justice. With a faculty of experts and robust career placement services, we offer the resources that aspiring legal professionals need to thrive.

Below, you will find a list of esteemed trial judges who have emerged from McGeorge School of Law, exemplifying the school’s commitment to excellence in legal education and public service.
- The Hon. David W. Abbott (Ret.), ‘73, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Richard J. Allen, ‘75, is a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Michael G. Allphin, ‘80, is a senior judge for Second District Court in Utah.
- The Hon. George F. Appel II, ‘92, is a Snohomish County Superior Court judge in Washington.
- The Hon. Robin C. Appel, ‘79, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Vicki L. Ashworth, ‘96, is the presiding judge for the El Dorado County Superior Court.
- The Hon. Trevor L. Atkin (Ret.), ‘87, was an Eighth Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Kelly L. Babineau, ‘97, is a Nevada County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Stephen H. Baker, ‘86, is a Shasta County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Melissa D. Begley, ‘10, is a Placer County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. John A. Behnke (Ret.), ‘77, was a Mendocino County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. JoAnn Marie Bicego, ‘89, is a Siskiyou County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Thadd A. Blizzard, ‘78, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Mark S. Borrell, ‘86, is a Ventura County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Lauren C. Bowers, ‘04, is an El Dorado County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Patrick M. Broderick, ‘87, is a Sonoma County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Kenneth N. Brody, ‘92, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Bert M. Brown, IV, ‘88, is a Las Vegas Municipal Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. John R. Brownlee, ‘90, is a Kern County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Lorna H. Brumfield, ‘83, is a Kern County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Andrea Y. Bryan, ‘78, is a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Rodney T. Burr, ‘86, is the chief judge for the Henderson Municipal Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. Donald C. Byrd, ‘75, is a Glenn County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Raymond M. Cadei (Ret.), ‘77, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Consuelo M. Callahan, ’75, was a Stockton County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Hallie Gorman Campbell, ‘10, is a Tuolumne County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Christine A. Carringer, ‘87, is a Solano County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Dana Astrachan Caudill, ‘93, is a Ventura County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Shelleyanne L. Chang, ‘85, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Valerie R. Chrissakis, ‘96, is a Kings County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Alin D. Cintean, ‘05, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. David W. Clifton, ‘83, is a Reno Justice Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Robert F. Cochran, ‘75, is a Del Norte County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sean D. Coen, ‘99, is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Dena M. Coggins, ‘07, is a U.S. district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
- The Hon. Jonathan B. Conklin, ‘85, is a Fresno County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Lloyd G. Connelly, Jr., ‘77, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Michael D. Coughlan, ‘86, is the presiding judge for the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
- The Hon. Steven R. Cranfill, ‘84, is a judge for the Park County, 5th Judical District in Wyoming.
- The Hon. Kevin R. Culhane (Ret.), ‘76, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Lewis A. Davis, ‘81, is a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Steve L. Dobrescu, ‘86, is a Seventh Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Danielle K. Douglas, ‘99, is a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Kathleen M. Drakulich, ‘86, is a Second Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Jack Duran Jr., ’02, is a chief justice of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Supreme Court.
- The Hon. Randy L. Edwards, ‘82, is a Kings County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Morrison England, Jr., ‘77 and ‘83, is a U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of California.
- The Hon. Kevin A. Enright, ‘79, is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gregory T. Fain, ‘86, is a justice for the Fresno County Superior Court.
- The Hon. Daniel A. Flores, ‘01, is a San Francisco County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Timothy F. Freer, ‘87, is a Riverside County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sallie Gaines, ‘80, is a judge for the Phoenix Municipal Court in Arizona.
- The Hon. David V. George, ‘74, is a judge for the Sitka Superior Court in Alaska.
- The Hon. John M. Gerrard, ‘81, is a senior judge for the U.S. District Court in Nebraska.
- The Hon. Jennifer Lee Giuliani, ‘92, is a Kings County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. L. Stephen Gizzi, ‘02, is a Solano County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Richard Glasson, ‘78, is a judge for the Tahoe Justice Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. Susan Nolan Green, ‘95, is a judge for Sutter County Superior Court.
- The Hon. Tom W. Gregory, ‘94, is a judge for the Ninth Judical District Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. Christian R. Gullon, ‘92, is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gregory F. Haas (Ret.), ‘75, was a California Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. James W. Hardesty (Ret.), ‘75, was a justice for the Supreme Court of Nevada.
- The Hon. Pierre A. Hascheff, ‘82, is a judge for the Reno Justice Court, Justices of the Peace in Nevada.
- The Hon. Timothy S. Healy, ‘00, is a Calaveras County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Philip H. Heithecker, ‘92, is a Butte County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Carol L. Henson, ‘92, is an Orange County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Eric L. Heryford, ‘92, is a Trinity County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Stuart L. Hing, ‘85, is an Alameda County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Joyce D. Hinrichs, ‘83, is a Humboldt County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Mark E. Hood, ‘87, is a Monterey County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Tara Libbey Howard, ‘94, is a Tulare County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Elizabeth Humphreys, ‘81, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gary A. Ingle (Ret.), ‘76, was a Kern County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Valli Israels, ‘94, is a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. David L. Johnson, ‘06, is a Third District Juvenile Court judge in Utah.
- The Hon. Gary M. Johnson, ‘95, is a Tulare County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Susan Holland Johnson, ‘85, is a judge for the Eighth Judical District Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. David M. Jones, ‘92, is an Eighth Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Allan F. Jose, ‘98, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Jon N. Kapetan, ‘89, is a Fresno County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Robert J. Kearney, ‘91, is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Pamela P. King (Ret.), ‘77, was a San Bernadino County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. William H. Kockenmeister, ‘79, is the chief judge for the Bishop Paiute Indian Tribal Court.
- The Hon. Barbara A. Kronlund, ‘89, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. John W. Lawrence, ‘94, is a Siskiyou County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Herbert I. Levy, ‘77, was a Fresno County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Kristina B. Lindquist, ‘07, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sharon A. Lueras, ‘88, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. William A. Maddox, ‘77, is a senior judge for the First Judicial District Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. Kazuharu Makino, ‘76, is an Orange County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Steven C. Malone, ‘88, is a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. James V. Mancuso, ‘75, is a senior justice for the Sparks Township Justice Court.
- The Hon. John A. Manglona, ‘88, is a justice for the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
- The Hon. Erin B. Marston (Ret.), ‘85, is an Anchorage Superior Court judge in Alaska.
- The Hon. David C. Mathias, ‘94, is a Tulare County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Samuel T. McAdam, ‘96, is a Yolo County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Mark A. McCannon, ‘96, is an Alameda County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Linda A. McFadden, ‘87, is a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Julie A. McManus (Ret.), ‘85, was a Nevada County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Richard D. Meyer, ‘78, is an Alpine County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Robin M. Miller Sloan, ‘86, is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. David Moranda, ‘80, is a Merced County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Tamara L. Mosbarger, ‘86, is a Butte County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. David A. Nesbett, ‘98, is a Third District Superior Court judge in Alaska.
- The Hon. Matthew G. Newman (Ret.), ‘85, was a La Paz County Superior Court judge in Arizona.
- The Hon. John D. Oglesby, ‘81, is a Kern County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sally F. Olsen (Ret.), ‘85, was a Kitsap County Superior Court in Washington.
- The Hon. Christopher S. Pallone, ‘03, is a San Bernardino County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Jamie L. Pesce, ‘04, is an El Dorado County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Danielle K. Pieper, ‘03, is an Eighth Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Victor N. Pippins, Jr., ‘07, is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Satnam S. Rattu, ‘07, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Michael J. Reinhart, ‘83, is a Kings County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Paul K. Richardson, ‘80, is a Yolo County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Katherine M. Rigby, ‘10, is a Madera County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Timothy P. Roberts, ‘87, is a Monterey County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Ronald Robie, ‘67, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Jay E. Robinson, ‘84, is a judge for the City of Dallas Municipal Court in Texas.
- The Hon. Kevin S. Rosenberg, ‘94, is a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. James T. Russell, ‘74, is a First Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Dana Makoto Sabraw, ‘85, is the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
- The Hon. Steven R. Sanders, ‘83, is a San Benito County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Michael A. Savage (Ret.), ‘86, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Ernest W. Sawtelle, ‘91, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sabrina M. Schneweis-Coe, ‘99, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Bernard J. Schwartz, ‘86, is a Riverside County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Arthur Scotland, ‘74, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. W. Stephen Scott (Ret.), ‘76, was a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Kevin M. Seibert, ‘85, is a Tuolumne County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Kenneth L. Shapero (Ret.), ‘77, was a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Dana B. Simonds, ‘85, is a Sonoma County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gilbert A. Smith, Jr., ‘86, is a Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court judge in Florida.
- The Hon. John R. Soldati, ‘98, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Bryan K. Stainfield, ‘86, is a Kern County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Mitchell I. Steinhart, ‘83, is a New Jersey Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Carrie M. Stephens, ‘90, is a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Dylan M. Sullivan (Ret.), ‘97, was an El Dorado County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Julie A. Swain, ‘96, is an Orange County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gregory A. Syren, ‘85, is an Alameda County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. D. Tyler Tharpe, ‘85, is a Fresno County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. B. Scott Thomsen, ‘88, is a Nevada County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Michelle Tong, ‘01, is a San Francisco County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Yolanda V. Torres, ‘01, is an Orange County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Jennifer O. Trimble, ‘02, is a Merced County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Antony C. Ufland, ‘91, is an Orange County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Phillip R. Urie, ‘81, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Xapuri B. Villapudua, ‘95, is the assistant presiding judge for the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
- The Hon. Catherine M. Voelker, ‘04, is a Ventura County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sim von Kalinowski, ‘80, is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Gerald D. Waite, ‘77, is a judge for the City of Lebanon Municipal Court in Oregon.
- The Hon. Egan K. Walker, ‘91, is a Second Judicial District Court judge in Nevada.
- The Hon. Frederick N. Wapner (Ret.), ‘75, was a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Sharon J. Waters (Ret.), ‘81, was a Riverside County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Robert T. Waters, ‘98, is a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Thomas Weathers, ‘93, is an associate justice of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Supreme Court.
- The Hon. Laurel E. White, ‘88, is a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Jerry A. Wiese II, ‘94, is the chief judge for the Eight Judicial District Court in Nevada.
- The Hon. Gerrit W. Wood (Ret.), ‘79, was a Sacramento County Superior Court judge.
- The Hon. Scott R. L. Young, ‘04, is the assistant presiding judge for the Napa County Superior Court.
Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.
Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.
Disclaimer: If you believe you should be featured in this blog but are not, it’s possible your information wasn’t up-to-date in our records. Please update your details in the alumni directory by filling out the form: https://mcgeorge.wufoo.com/forms/z1ytl8b20dz7e78/