Judge Marissa A. Bejarano

Judge Marissa A. Bejarano was appointed to the San Diego Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 3, 2021, filling the vacancy created by the elevation of Justice Truc T. Do to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Her entire pre-bench career was spent in public prosecution and law enforcement-adjacent roles: she served as a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice from 2006 to 2013, then transitioned to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office where she worked as a Deputy District Attorney beginning in 2014 and later as a Community Partnership Prosecutor beginning in 2019. This trajectory is significant — it reflects not only a prosecutorial mindset but also a demonstrated commitment to community-based and rehabilitative approaches to justice, particularly through her Community Partnership Prosecutor role, which typically emphasizes diversion, restorative justice, and collaborative problem-solving over purely punitive outcomes. The only substantive characterization of her judicial philosophy available in the public record comes from a February 2024 Daily Journal profile, which describes her judicial work as 'life-changing for parents and children,' strongly suggesting she is currently assigned to or has significant involvement in dependency, family, or juvenile court matters. This framing implies a judge who values rehabilitative outcomes, parental engagement, and child welfare over purely adversarial resolution. Attorneys should expect a judge who takes the human stakes of cases seriously and who may be more receptive to arguments grounded in practical impact on families and communities than to purely technical legal arguments. Because Judge Bejarano's judicial record is still relatively early-stage — she has been on the bench since late 2021 — and no analyzed rulings or attorney observations are available in this dataset, all assessments here are necessarily inferential, drawn from career trajectory, appointment context, and the limited public characterizations available. Attorneys should treat this profile as a baseline framework and actively supplement it with direct courtroom observation.

Given Judge Bejarano's background as a Community Partnership Prosecutor, attorneys — particularly those in dependency, juvenile, or family law matters — should frame arguments in terms of concrete outcomes for children and families rather than relying solely on procedural or technical legal grounds. Her prosecutorial background means she is likely comfortable with evidentiary rigor and will expect counsel to be precise about facts, timelines, and supporting documentation. However, her community partnership work signals that she is not reflexively punitive and may be persuaded by well-supported arguments for rehabilitative or restorative alternatives, provided those arguments are grounded in specific, credible plans rather than vague promises. For criminal defense attorneys, her prosecutorial background warrants careful attention. She spent nearly 15 years as a government attorney, and while her Community Partnership Prosecutor role suggests openness to diversion and alternatives to incarceration, she is unlikely to be sympathetic to arguments that minimize accountability or ignore victim impact. Defense counsel should come prepared with concrete rehabilitation plans, community support documentation, and evidence of genuine accountability. Prosecutors appearing before her should not assume automatic alignment — her community-focused work suggests she will hold the government to its evidentiary and procedural obligations. In all matters, precision and preparation will likely be rewarded. Her AG background, which involved complex multi-party litigation and appellate-level legal analysis, suggests she has a high tolerance for sophisticated legal argument and a low tolerance for sloppy briefing or unprepared counsel. Attorneys should arrive with organized, well-cited papers and be ready to engage substantively on both the law and the equities of their case.

• critical

  Research Her Current Department Assignment

  Confirm whether Judge Bejarano is currently assigned to dependency, family, juvenile, or another department. Her Daily Journal coverage suggests a family/dependency focus, but San Diego Superior Court assignments can change. Knowing her current docket will sharpen your preparation and help you anticipate her areas of greatest expertise.

• critical

  Prepare Thorough, Well-Cited Written Submissions

  Her AG background signals high expectations for legal precision. All briefs and motions should be meticulously cited, factually organized, and free of overstatement. Sloppy or under-supported papers are likely to undermine credibility with a judge trained in rigorous government litigation.

• important

  Develop a Concrete Rehabilitative or Outcome-Focused Narrative

  In any matter where rehabilitation, family preservation, or community impact is relevant, prepare a specific, evidence-backed narrative about outcomes. Vague assertions of good intentions will not suffice — she will likely expect concrete plans, support systems, and measurable commitments.

• important

  Gather Direct Courtroom Intelligence from Local Practitioners

  Because no analyzed rulings or attorney observations are available, the most valuable preparation step is speaking directly with San Diego family law, dependency, or criminal defense attorneys who have appeared before her since 2021. First-hand accounts of her courtroom demeanor, procedural preferences, and ruling tendencies are irreplaceable at this stage.

• important

  Anticipate Accountability-Focused Questioning in Criminal Matters

  Defense attorneys should prepare clients and arguments for a judge who, despite openness to rehabilitation, spent 15 years as a government prosecutor. Expect probing questions about accountability, victim impact, and the credibility of any proposed alternatives to traditional sentencing.

• Nice

  Review Daily Journal and Local Bar Coverage Post-2021

  The February 2024 Daily Journal profile is the only substantive public characterization of her judicial work. Search for additional coverage, bar association profiles, or CLE appearances since her 2021 appointment to identify any additional statements about her judicial philosophy or procedural preferences.

• ›Arrive fully prepared on both the facts and the law — her AG background suggests she will engage substantively and may ask pointed questions that expose underprepared counsel quickly.
• ›Frame arguments in terms of real-world impact on people, particularly children and families, where applicable — this framing aligns with her publicly described judicial focus and community partnership background.
• ›Demonstrate genuine accountability and good faith in all representations to the court — a former prosecutor will be attuned to evasion, overstatement, or attempts to minimize unfavorable facts.
• ›Be concise and organized in oral argument — government litigators typically value efficiency and structured presentation; avoid rambling or repetitive argument.
• ›Show respect for the human dimensions of the cases before her — given her described focus on 'life-changing' outcomes, treating cases as purely transactional or technical may come across as tone-deaf to her judicial values.
• ›If appearing in dependency or family matters, be thoroughly familiar with the relevant statutory framework and case law — this is likely her area of deepest current judicial expertise.