Judge Nina Shapirshteyn

Judge Nina Shapirshteyn is a relatively new appointee to the San Mateo County Superior Court, having been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in May 2023 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge John Grandsaert. Her background is distinctly plaintiff-side and litigation-focused: she spent nearly a decade as a trial attorney and partner at Alexander Law Group LLP, a firm known for personal injury and plaintiff-side civil litigation. This pre-bench career is a critical lens through which to understand her likely judicial temperament — she comes to the bench with deep familiarity with the practical realities of civil litigation from the plaintiff's perspective, which may inform her sensitivity to procedural fairness, access to courts, and skepticism of corporate defendants seeking to limit exposure through procedural mechanisms. The two notable cases on record offer meaningful early signals. Her November 2025 ruling against Roblox — rejecting the company's motion to compel arbitration in a child exploitation and teen grooming lawsuit — suggests a willingness to scrutinize arbitration clauses critically, particularly where vulnerable populations or public interest concerns are at stake. This aligns with a broader judicial trend among plaintiff-side practitioners turned judges who are skeptical of arbitration as a tool to shield corporate defendants from accountability. Her October 2025 involvement in the high-profile case involving the former San Mateo County Sheriff challenging her removal demonstrates comfort presiding over politically sensitive and publicly scrutinized matters. With limited ruling data available, attorneys should treat these early signals as directional rather than definitive. Judge Shapirshteyn is still establishing her judicial identity, and her docket patterns will become clearer over time. However, her plaintiff-side background and early rulings suggest a judge who prioritizes access to justice, is skeptical of procedural maneuvers that limit litigation on the merits, and is comfortable with high-visibility, complex cases.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Shapirshteyn should be acutely aware of her plaintiff-side litigation background. Defense counsel in particular should not assume that procedural shortcuts — especially motions to compel arbitration, motions to dismiss on standing grounds, or other threshold dispositive motions — will receive a sympathetic hearing. Her Roblox ruling is the clearest early signal: she was willing to reject a major corporation's arbitration clause and keep serious allegations in the public forum. Defense attorneys should be prepared to argue the merits robustly rather than relying on procedural off-ramps, and should anticipate that arbitration clauses will face heightened scrutiny, particularly in consumer, employment, or cases involving minors or vulnerable parties. Plaintiff-side attorneys may find a receptive audience when framing arguments around access to courts, public accountability, and the substantive merits of their claims. Emphasizing the real-world impact on clients — especially vulnerable populations — is likely to resonate given her career trajectory. However, attorneys should not mistake her plaintiff-side background for a rubber stamp; she is a trained trial attorney who will expect rigorous legal argument and well-prepared counsel on both sides. Given her relatively recent appointment (2023), Judge Shapirshteyn is still developing her courtroom preferences and procedural expectations. Attorneys should be attentive to any standing orders or local rules she has adopted, and should not assume she will follow the exact practices of her predecessor. Early in a judge's tenure, demonstrating respect for the court's time, thorough preparation, and clear written submissions tends to make a strong impression that can benefit counsel throughout the life of a case.

• critical

  Research Her Current Standing Orders and Local Rules

  As a relatively new appointee (2023), Judge Shapirshteyn may have issued standing orders or adopted specific courtroom procedures that differ from her predecessor. Obtain and review any standing orders before any appearance, as new judges often establish preferences early that become entrenched.

• critical

  Prepare Robust Merits Arguments if Filing Arbitration Motion

  Given her November 2025 ruling rejecting Roblox's arbitration motion, any motion to compel arbitration must be supported by exceptionally strong legal authority and factual distinction from cases involving vulnerable parties or public interest. Prepare fallback merits arguments assuming the motion may be denied.

• important

  Anticipate Plaintiff-Friendly Framing in Opposing Counsel's Arguments

  Defense counsel should anticipate that opposing counsel may attempt to leverage her background by framing arguments around access to justice and corporate accountability. Prepare responses that acknowledge these concerns while grounding arguments in controlling legal authority.

• important

  Review Alexander Law Group LLP Practice Areas for Conflict Awareness

  Her decade at Alexander Law Group LLP may create recusal considerations in cases involving that firm or closely related parties. Confirm no conflict exists before proceeding, and be prepared to raise the issue if it arises.

• important

  Monitor Her Developing Ruling Patterns Closely

  With limited ruling history available, attorneys should actively monitor new decisions from her courtroom through Trellis, CourtListener, or San Mateo Superior Court records as her docket matures. Early patterns will become clearer within 12-18 months of her appointment.

• Nice

  Prepare Clear, Well-Organized Written Submissions

  Trial attorneys who become judges often have strong preferences for clear, logically organized briefs that mirror effective trial advocacy. Avoid dense, footnote-heavy academic writing; favor clear headings, concise argument sections, and strong factual grounding.

• ›Treat the courtroom with the formality expected of a judge who came from active trial practice — she will recognize and appreciate polished courtroom demeanor and be less tolerant of unprepared or casual counsel.
• ›Be fully prepared on the facts of your case; her trial attorney background means she will likely probe factual details and may be less patient with counsel who cannot answer basic factual questions about their own matter.
• ›Avoid appearing to use procedural motions as delay tactics — her plaintiff-side background makes her attuned to defense strategies designed to frustrate litigation rather than address its substance.
• ›Demonstrate respect for opposing counsel and the court's time; as a newer judge establishing her courtroom culture, she is likely to set firm expectations about professional conduct early.
• ›If appearing in a high-profile or publicly sensitive matter, be prepared for a judge who is conscious of the public record — craft arguments and statements with clarity, as if they may be quoted or scrutinized externally.