Judge Anthony J. Campagna

Judge Anthony J. Campagna was appointed to the San Diego Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 8, 2020, bringing with him over two decades of prosecutorial experience at the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, where he began in 1999 and rose to Division Chief of the South Bay Branch beginning in 2018. His entire pre-bench career was spent in criminal prosecution, including service as Assistant District Attorney, which means his judicial background is rooted exclusively in criminal law and procedure from the prosecution's perspective. The one documented case from his tenure on the bench — a May 2022 matter involving the brother of Ashli Babbitt on alleged hate crimes charges — resulted in the defendant being denied the opportunity to avoid jail. This single data point is consistent with a judge who, given his prosecutorial background, takes criminal accountability seriously. A 2024 Daily Journal profile noted his stated motivation for entering law was to help people, which he articulated as a guiding principle. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available beyond his biographical profile and one noted case outcome, the intelligence in this report is drawn exclusively from his career history and that single documented ruling. Attorneys should treat this profile as a starting-point framework and supplement it with direct courtroom observation.

Given Judge Campagna's 21-year career as a prosecutor — including senior leadership as Division Chief — defense attorneys in criminal matters should anticipate a judge with deep familiarity with prosecutorial arguments, charging decisions, and the mechanics of criminal cases. He will recognize procedural and evidentiary arguments quickly and is unlikely to be persuaded by arguments that mischaracterize standard prosecutorial practice. Defense counsel should be precise, technically grounded, and prepared to engage at a sophisticated level on criminal procedure. The one documented case outcome — denying a defendant the opportunity to avoid jail in an alleged hate crimes matter — reflects a willingness to impose custodial consequences when the facts and charges warrant it. Attorneys seeking leniency or alternative sentencing in serious criminal matters should come prepared with compelling, well-documented mitigation and should not rely on general equitable appeals without factual support. For civil practitioners who may appear before Judge Campagna, the available data does not provide a basis for specific strategic guidance. Attorneys in civil matters should conduct independent research into his civil rulings and supplement this profile accordingly before making strategic decisions.

• critical

  Research Criminal Rulings Beyond This Profile

  This profile contains only one documented case outcome. Before any criminal appearance, attorneys should independently research Judge Campagna's rulings through Trellis, CourtListener, or direct court record review to build a more complete picture of his sentencing and evidentiary patterns.

• critical

  Prepare Detailed Mitigation for Sentencing Matters

  The documented denial of jail avoidance in a hate crimes case signals that custodial outcomes are on the table in serious criminal matters. Any sentencing appearance should include thorough, documented mitigation — not general equitable appeals.

• important

  Anticipate Prosecutorial-Level Scrutiny of Defense Arguments

  Given his 21-year prosecutorial career, Judge Campagna will recognize weaknesses in defense arguments that a less experienced criminal judge might not. Defense counsel should stress-test their arguments against prosecutorial counterarguments before appearing.

• important

  Frame Arguments Around Human Impact Where Appropriate

  Judge Campagna's documented motivation for entering law was to help people. Where the facts support it, framing legal arguments around concrete human consequences aligns with his stated judicial values.

• important

  Consult Colleagues with Direct Courtroom Experience

  Given the absence of analyzed rulings and attorney observations in this profile, consulting San Diego criminal defense attorneys or prosecutors who have appeared before Judge Campagna is the most direct way to supplement this intelligence.

• ›Demonstrate command of criminal procedure and evidentiary rules — Judge Campagna's prosecutorial background means he will evaluate technical legal arguments at a high level of sophistication.
• ›Be factually precise and avoid overstating or mischaracterizing the record — a judge with senior prosecutorial experience will identify inaccuracies quickly.
• ›Do not rely on general equitable appeals in criminal sentencing matters without concrete factual support, as the documented case outcome reflects a willingness to impose custodial consequences.
• ›Treat the courtroom with the formality appropriate to a judge appointed by the Governor with senior leadership experience — professionalism and preparation are baseline expectations.