Judge Philip Marshall

Judge Philip Marshall was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 18, 2023, bringing with him 24 years of prosecutorial experience at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He joined the DA's Office in 1999 and rose through the ranks, holding roles as Assistant Head Deputy and Special Assistant before serving as Deputy-in-Charge from 2019 until his judicial appointment. His entire pre-bench career was spent in criminal prosecution, which defines the professional lens through which he approaches the law. Marshall's judicial outlook, as reported in a March 2025 Daily Journal article, is shaped in part by his personal experience as a crime victim. This background, combined with his prosecutorial career, reflects a stated commitment to justice for victims. Attorneys should understand that his professional formation occurred entirely within the criminal prosecution context, and he has no documented civil litigation or defense-side background. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are currently available for Judge Marshall, behavioral patterns and courtroom tendencies cannot be documented from case data at this time. The guidance below is grounded exclusively in his verified biographical and career profile. Attorneys should treat this intelligence as a baseline profile and supplement it with direct courtroom observation as they accumulate experience before him.

Given Judge Marshall's 24-year career as a prosecutor, attorneys appearing before him in criminal matters should anticipate a judge with deep familiarity with prosecutorial strategy, evidentiary standards in criminal cases, and the operational realities of the DA's Office. Defense attorneys in particular should prepare thorough, well-documented arguments and avoid assumptions that procedural shortcuts will go unnoticed by a judge who spent decades on the other side of the courtroom. For civil practitioners, the absence of any documented civil litigation background in Marshall's career profile means attorneys cannot rely on assumptions about his familiarity with civil procedure nuances. Presenting arguments with clear procedural grounding and explicit statutory citations is advisable. His reported victim-centered judicial philosophy, drawn from both professional and personal experience, warrants attention in any matter where victim impact or equitable considerations are at issue. Because no ruling data is available, attorneys should invest in direct courtroom observation before their first substantive appearance. Attending other hearings in his department to observe his procedural preferences, questioning style, and demeanor will provide intelligence that this profile cannot yet supply.

• critical

  Conduct Direct Courtroom Observation Before First Appearance

  No ruling data or attorney observations exist for Judge Marshall. Attending hearings in his department before your first substantive appearance is the most effective way to gather intelligence on his procedural preferences, questioning style, and courtroom management.

• critical

  Prepare Explicit Statutory and Procedural Citations

  Given the absence of documented civil litigation background in Marshall's career profile, civil practitioners should not assume familiarity with civil procedure nuances. Every procedural argument should be anchored to explicit statutory authority.

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  Frame Victim Impact Arguments Carefully in Criminal Matters

  Marshall's stated judicial philosophy includes a commitment to justice for victims, grounded in both professional and personal experience. Attorneys on either side of criminal matters should be prepared to address victim impact dimensions of their arguments with specificity and care.

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  Research His DA Office Tenure for Relevant Case Types

  Marshall served as Deputy-in-Charge at the LA County DA's Office from 2019 to 2023. Researching the types of cases and units he oversaw during that period may provide insight into areas of particular expertise or sensitivity.

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  Review Whittier Law School Curriculum Context

  Marshall received his legal education at Whittier Law School. While no specific academic details are available, understanding the general legal training background can inform how foundational legal arguments are best framed.

• ›Treat this as a courtroom where prosecutorial procedure and criminal law will be evaluated by a judge with 24 years of direct prosecutorial experience — precision in criminal law arguments is essential.
• ›Do not misrepresent facts about the DA's Office or prosecutorial practices; Marshall served as Deputy-in-Charge and will recognize inaccuracies.
• ›Approach victim-related issues with seriousness and specificity; Marshall's documented judicial philosophy reflects a personal and professional commitment to victim justice.
• ›Arrive prepared with explicit legal authority for all procedural positions, as no behavioral data exists to indicate tolerance for underprepared arguments.