Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor

Judge Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor is a relatively new addition to the San Diego Superior Court bench, having been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in March 2022 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Margie G. Woods. Her judicial profile is shaped almost entirely by a long and distinguished prosecutorial career: she spent the bulk of her legal career — from 1995 onward — as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, rising through the ranks to serve as Team Leader, Assistant Chief, and Division Chief. This prosecutorial pedigree is the single most defining characteristic available to attorneys seeking to anticipate her judicial temperament and decision-making framework. She also holds a brief but notable private-sector interlude as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Angelic Entertainment (1999–2000), suggesting some exposure to transactional and entertainment law, though this appears to be a limited departure from her primary prosecutorial identity. The one publicly documented case of note from her tenure on the bench is the preliminary hearing for Mikey Williams, a high-profile Memphis basketball recruit, in which she ordered the defendant to stand trial on six felony gun charges in October 2023. While a single ruling cannot establish a pattern, it does confirm that she is presiding over serious felony criminal matters and that she is willing to bind defendants over for trial on significant charges when the evidence supports it. Her prosecutorial background strongly suggests she will be comfortable with evidentiary standards, familiar with law enforcement testimony, and attentive to the procedural rigor expected in criminal proceedings. Attorneys in both criminal and civil matters should anticipate a judge who values precision, factual grounding, and procedural compliance, consistent with the discipline of a career prosecutor.

Given Judge Thompson-Taylor's nearly three-decade career as a prosecutor — including leadership roles as Division Chief and Assistant Chief — attorneys appearing before her should expect a judge who is deeply fluent in criminal procedure, evidentiary rules, and the mechanics of felony prosecution. In criminal defense matters, counsel should be especially rigorous in challenging the sufficiency of evidence and the credibility of law enforcement witnesses, as she will likely be a sophisticated evaluator of such arguments rather than a passive listener. Do not assume she will be reflexively pro-prosecution simply because of her background; judges with prosecutorial experience often develop nuanced views on due process precisely because they understand the system's pressure points. That said, weak or unsupported defense arguments are unlikely to gain traction — she will expect defense counsel to meet a high factual and legal bar. For civil litigants, her prosecutorial background suggests she will favor organized, fact-driven presentations over rhetorical flourishes. Attorneys should lead with the strongest factual record possible, use clear chronological or logical structure, and avoid overreaching legal arguments that lack evidentiary support. Her brief experience in business and legal affairs at a private entertainment company may make her marginally more receptive to commercial disputes than a purely criminal-track judge, but this should not be overstated. In all matters, attorneys should be fully prepared on procedural requirements — a career prosecutor turned judge will have little patience for procedural shortcuts or sloppy filings. Oral argument should be concise, well-organized, and anchored to the record.

• critical

  Master the Evidentiary Record Before Any Hearing

  Given her prosecutorial background, Judge Thompson-Taylor will likely probe the factual and evidentiary basis of every argument. Attorneys must be able to cite specific evidence, exhibits, and record citations on demand. Vague or unsupported factual assertions will likely draw skepticism.

• critical

  Research Her Rulings Since 2022 Appointment

  With no ruling analyses currently available, attorneys should independently research her published and unpublished orders through Trellis, CourtListener, and the San Diego Superior Court's own docket system to identify any emerging patterns in motion practice, evidentiary rulings, or sentencing.

• important

  Prepare Tight, Structured Oral Arguments

  A career prosecutor who managed complex caseloads as Division Chief will value efficiency and clarity. Prepare oral arguments with a clear roadmap, prioritized points, and a concise conclusion. Avoid rambling or repetitive presentations.

• important

  Anticipate Sophisticated Evidentiary Objections

  In criminal matters especially, be prepared for the court to raise or sustain evidentiary objections with precision. Review the Evidence Code provisions most relevant to your case and have responses ready for likely objections to your key evidence.

• important

  Network with San Diego Criminal Bar for Observations

  Given the absence of documented attorney observations, proactively contact San Diego criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors who have appeared before her since 2022 to gather firsthand intelligence on her courtroom style, temperament, and preferences.

• Nice

  Review Judge Margie G. Woods' Prior Practices

  Judge Thompson-Taylor fills the vacancy left by Judge Woods. While she will have her own style, reviewing how Judge Woods managed her docket and courtroom may provide useful baseline context for the courtroom environment and any inherited administrative practices.

• ›Arrive fully prepared on procedural requirements — a career prosecutor turned judge will have little tolerance for counsel who are unfamiliar with applicable rules, deadlines, or filing requirements.
• ›Be direct and factually precise when speaking to the court; avoid rhetorical excess or emotional appeals unsupported by the record, as her prosecutorial training emphasizes evidence over advocacy style.
• ›Treat law enforcement witnesses and their testimony with appropriate analytical rigor — neither reflexive deference nor dismissiveness — as she will be a sophisticated evaluator of such testimony.
• ›Maintain strict professionalism and decorum; her background in a hierarchical prosecutorial office suggests she will expect formal, respectful courtroom conduct from all counsel.
• ›Be prepared to answer the court's questions directly and concisely without deflecting — a judge with senior prosecutorial leadership experience will expect counsel to know their case cold and answer questions on the spot.