A state trial court / Established 1964

Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo

A general-jurisdiction trial court in California.

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo is a general-jurisdiction state trial court in California, where most civil and criminal cases are first heard. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections, the method California uses for its judges. This page lists the judges on record for this court from our public-records source, current and former; trial-court coverage is partial.

66
Judges in history
21
Currently serving
Merit selection
Selection
12-yr
Term
Current judges
Former judges
JudgeYears
Leland III Davis2010–2019
Susan I. Etezadi2006–2019
John L. Grandsaert2004–2016
Beth Labson Freeman2001–2014
Jonathan Karesh2001–2020
John W. Runde2001–2002
Steven L. Dylina2000–2018
Robert D. Foiles1998–2014
Norman J. Gatzert1998–2010
Stephen M. Hall1998–2014
Carl W. Holm1998–2009
Gregory S. Jensen1998–1999
Richard Clifton Livermore1998–2017
Barbara J. Mallach1998–2018
George A. Miram1998–2006
Paula W. Schlichter1998–2002
Joseph E. Bergeron1997–2017
Craig L. Parsons1997–2015
Mark R. Forcum1993–2019
Rosemary Pfeiffer1991–2011
James L., Jr. Browning1990–1998
Walter H., Jr. Harrington1990–1996
Aram Serverian1989–2000
Phrasel L. Shelton1988–2004
Judith Whitmer1988–2004
Dale A. Hahn1987–2004
Margaret J. Kemp1987–2004
James Rogers Miller Jr.1986–1994
John G. Schwartz1986–2006
Thomas McGinn Smith1984–1997
Harlan K. Veal1984–1996
Clarence B. Knight1982–1997
Allan J. Bollhoffer1979–1999
V. Gene McDonald1979–1997
John J. Bible1978–1992
Alan W. Haverty1976–1987
Martin Joseph Jenkins1976–1990
Thomas M. Jenkins1976–1990
William F. Lanam1973–1990
Robert E. Carey1971–1989
Frank Piombo1971–1988
Gerald E. Ragan1971–1991
Robert D. Miller1970–1988
Lyle R. Edson1969–1983
Melvin E. Cohn1964–1983

How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo are appointed by the governor to 12-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.

Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data last verified 2026-06-30. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).