Judge Manuel Bustamante Jr.

Judge Manuel Bustamante Jr. was appointed to the Riverside Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on March 25, 2022, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David A. Gunn at the Indio Larson Justice Center. His pre-bench career is defined by two distinct professional tracks: thirteen years as a Deputy District Attorney at the Riverside County District Attorney's Office (2006–2019), followed by work as a Trial Attorney at the Walter Clark Legal Group beginning in 2019. This combination gives him direct courtroom experience on both the prosecution side and in civil plaintiff-side litigation. He earned his Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University School of Law and has served concurrently as an Adjunct Professor at California State University, San Bernardino since 2009, a role he held throughout his prosecutorial career and into private practice. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available at this time, no patterns in judicial decision-making, motion practice preferences, or courtroom demeanor can be documented. The profile data does establish that Judge Bustamante brings a prosecutorial foundation spanning over a decade, supplemented by civil litigation experience and an academic teaching role. Attorneys should treat this profile as a starting-point framework and supplement it with direct courtroom observation as his judicial record develops.

Given Judge Bustamante's thirteen-year background as a Deputy District Attorney, attorneys in criminal matters should anticipate a judge with deep familiarity with prosecution-side procedure, evidentiary standards, and law enforcement practices. Defense counsel in particular should be prepared to address procedural and evidentiary arguments with precision, as his prosecutorial experience means he will recognize shortcuts or imprecision in legal arguments quickly. His subsequent civil litigation experience at the Walter Clark Legal Group adds a plaintiff-side civil dimension to his background, which may inform his approach to damages arguments and civil procedure. His long-running role as an Adjunct Professor at California State University, San Bernardino suggests comfort with structured, analytical presentation of legal concepts. Attorneys who present arguments in a clear, organized, and methodical manner — grounded in statutory text and case law — align with the kind of structured reasoning associated with academic instruction. No ruling data is available to confirm specific preferences in motion practice, oral argument, or written submissions, so attorneys should observe his courtroom directly before drawing further tactical conclusions.

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  Conduct Direct Courtroom Observation

  No ruling data or attorney observations exist in this dataset. Before any significant appearance, attend Judge Bustamante's courtroom to observe his procedural preferences, demeanor, and how he manages oral argument.

• critical

  Prepare Precise Evidentiary Foundations

  Given his thirteen years as a Deputy District Attorney, Judge Bustamante has deep familiarity with evidentiary standards. Ensure all evidentiary submissions are properly authenticated and supported with clear legal authority.

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  Structure Arguments Analytically

  His concurrent academic role at CSUSB since 2009 suggests comfort with organized, methodical legal reasoning. Present arguments with clear issue identification, rule statements, and application to facts.

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  Research Riverside County Local Rules for Indio Larson Justice Center

  As a relatively recently appointed judge at a specific branch court, confirm applicable local rules and any standing orders issued by Judge Bustamante that may govern motion practice and hearing procedures.

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  Review Pepperdine Law School Curriculum Context

  Pepperdine University School of Law is known for its emphasis on dispute resolution and practical advocacy. This background may inform receptiveness to settlement-oriented discussions and practical resolution arguments.

• ›Arrive prepared with complete knowledge of the record; his trial attorney background on both prosecution and civil sides means he will recognize unprepared counsel quickly.
• ›Present legal arguments in a structured, organized format consistent with academic and courtroom analytical standards given his dual role as professor and practitioner.
• ›Treat all procedural requirements seriously; his prosecutorial background reflects a career built on procedural discipline and compliance with court rules.
• ›Do not assume familiarity with his preferences — no standing orders or observed patterns are documented, so confirm all procedural requirements directly with the court clerk before appearing.