Judge David K. Reinert

Judge David K. Reinert serves on the Los Angeles County Superior Court at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, having been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on November 29, 2018, as part of a seven-judge cohort. His appointment by a Democratic governor and his legal education at USC Gould School of Law — one of California's premier law schools — provide some baseline indicators of his professional formation, though no ruling analyses or attorney observations are currently available to characterize his judicial philosophy with precision. What is known from public records is that Judge Reinert has presided over complex civil litigation, including a high-profile case involving Phil Spector's daughter against an auction house over memorabilia. That case, which involved the later addition of Phil Spector's ex-wife as a defendant in July 2023 and ultimately settled in November 2023, suggests Judge Reinert has experience managing multi-party civil disputes with significant public attention and evolving party structures. His ability to shepherd that case through procedural complexity — including party substitution and eventual resolution — indicates familiarity with the lifecycle of civil litigation from pleading through settlement. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available at this time, all characterizations in this profile are necessarily inferential and drawn from career background and publicly documented case involvement. Attorneys should treat this profile as a starting framework and supplement it aggressively with direct research before any appearance.

Given the absence of ruling analyses and attorney observations, attorneys appearing before Judge Reinert should approach their preparation with a clean-slate mindset while drawing on the structural indicators available. His USC Gould legal education suggests exposure to rigorous doctrinal analysis, and attorneys should prioritize well-organized, legally precise arguments over purely equitable appeals. The Phil Spector memorabilia litigation — a case involving intellectual property, estate-adjacent claims, and auction house liability — suggests Judge Reinert is comfortable with commercially complex civil matters and can manage cases where the factual record is emotionally charged but legally technical. Attorneys should be prepared to separate the legal merits from any sensational background facts and present clean, issue-focused briefing. Because the case ultimately settled, it is unclear whether Judge Reinert actively encouraged settlement or simply presided as the parties reached resolution independently. However, the multi-year trajectory of that case suggests he allows litigation to develop through its natural procedural stages without forcing premature resolution. Attorneys should not assume he will push aggressively for early settlement but should be prepared for a judge who manages dockets methodically. Until more data is available, the safest approach is to over-prepare on procedural compliance, cite authority carefully, and avoid relying on courtroom improvisation.

• critical

  Pull All Available Rulings from Trellis and CourtListener

  Before any appearance, conduct a targeted search for Judge Reinert's written rulings on Trellis, CourtListener, and the LASC online portal. Even a handful of tentative rulings or minute orders can reveal his analytical preferences, citation habits, and procedural expectations.

• critical

  Review Stanley Mosk Department-Specific Standing Orders

  Identify Judge Reinert's specific department number at Stanley Mosk and review any posted standing orders or local rules. Stanley Mosk judges often have individualized requirements for motion formatting, meet-and-confer obligations, and hearing procedures that are not captured in county-wide rules.

• critical

  Consult Colleagues Who Have Appeared Before Him

  Given the data gap in this profile, firsthand attorney accounts are the most valuable intelligence available. Query your network — particularly civil litigators at firms active in LASC — for any direct observations about his courtroom demeanor, tentative ruling practices, and oral argument preferences.

• important

  Prepare Tight, Issue-Specific Briefing

  Based on his USC legal background and experience with complex civil matters, prepare briefs that are analytically organized, issue-by-issue, with clear headings and precise legal citations. Avoid padding or excessive background narrative that buries the legal argument.

• important

  Anticipate Procedural Compliance Scrutiny

  Newly appointed judges (within their first decade) often enforce procedural rules strictly as they establish their courtroom culture. Ensure all filings comply with CRC, LASC local rules, and any department-specific orders. Late filings or defective proofs of service may draw disproportionate attention.

• Nice

  Prepare a Clear Party and Claim Map for Complex Cases

  Given his experience with multi-party litigation involving evolving party structures, bring a clear visual or written summary of all parties, claims, and cross-claims if your matter is complex. Judges who manage multi-party cases appreciate attorneys who make the record easy to navigate.

• ›Arrive early and be fully prepared before the hearing begins — Stanley Mosk courtrooms operate on tight docket schedules and judges expect counsel to be ready to proceed without delay.
• ›Address the court formally and avoid interrupting the judge or opposing counsel during argument; given the absence of behavioral data, err on the side of formality until you have direct experience with his courtroom style.
• ›If the court issues tentative rulings, review them carefully before the hearing and be prepared to address the specific reasoning in the tentative rather than re-arguing your original motion from scratch.
• ›Maintain professional decorum even in adversarial exchanges — Judge Reinert's background in complex civil litigation suggests he values counsel who can disagree without becoming combative.
• ›Have all cited authorities tabbed and available for immediate reference if the judge asks questions during oral argument; being unable to locate a cited case is a credibility risk before any judge.