Judge Susan I. Etezadi

Judge Susan I. Etezadi has served on the San Mateo County Superior Court since her appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 8, 2006, giving her nearly two decades of experience on the bench. The available public record documents her presiding over at least one high-profile criminal matter: a street racing fatality case in San Mateo County involving the deaths of the parents of twin girls in a San Carlos crash. That case drew sustained media attention, including a December 2023 hearing to determine whether the accused teen would be tried as an adult, and concluded in January 2025 with a sentence of 90 days of home monitoring for the defendant. The sentencing outcome in that case — home monitoring rather than incarceration — was notable given the severity of the underlying conduct and the public scrutiny the case received. Beyond this documented criminal matter, the available data does not support broader characterizations of Judge Etezadi's judicial philosophy, ruling tendencies across case types, or preferred procedural practices. Attorneys should treat this profile as a starting point and supplement it with direct research into San Mateo County Superior Court dockets and local bar association resources before appearing before her.

The only documented case data available involves a criminal matter with juvenile transfer and sentencing components. In that case, Judge Etezadi presided over a formal adult-transfer hearing for a juvenile defendant and ultimately imposed a non-custodial sentence of home monitoring. Attorneys handling criminal matters — particularly those involving juveniles, serious traffic offenses, or cases with significant media exposure — should be prepared for thorough procedural hearings and should not assume that public pressure or media coverage will drive sentencing outcomes toward the harshest available option. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or additional case data are available, attorneys cannot draw on a documented pattern of preferred argument styles, motion practice tendencies, or courtroom management preferences. The most reliable preparation strategy is to consult San Mateo County local rules, review any standing orders issued by Judge Etezadi's department, and speak with attorneys who have recently appeared before her. Direct familiarity with her department's practices will be more reliable than inference from the limited data currently available.

• critical

  Review San Mateo County Superior Court Local Rules

  No department-specific standing orders or preferences are documented in this profile. Attorneys must independently obtain and review any standing orders or local rules applicable to Judge Etezadi's department before appearing.

• critical

  Research Docket History Directly

  With only one case documented here, attorneys should independently search San Mateo County Superior Court dockets for additional matters Judge Etezadi has handled to identify any patterns in rulings relevant to their case type.

• important

  Consult Local Criminal Defense and Prosecution Bar

  Given the documented criminal case history, attorneys in criminal matters should consult colleagues who have appeared before Judge Etezadi in San Mateo County to gather firsthand procedural and strategic observations.

• important

  Prepare Thorough Sentencing Memoranda in Criminal Cases

  The documented case involved a contested sentencing in a high-profile matter. Attorneys in criminal cases should prepare detailed sentencing memoranda addressing all relevant factors, as the record suggests Judge Etezadi engages carefully with sentencing determinations.

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  Anticipate Extended Timelines in Complex Criminal Matters

  The documented case spanned from at least December 2023 through January 2025. Attorneys should plan for extended case timelines in complex criminal matters and ensure clients are prepared accordingly.

• ›Adhere strictly to all San Mateo County Superior Court local rules and any standing orders issued by Judge Etezadi's department, as no exceptions or informal practices are documented.
• ›In high-profile or media-covered matters, maintain professional decorum at all times given the documented public scrutiny that has accompanied proceedings in Judge Etezadi's courtroom.
• ›Be prepared for formal, procedurally complete hearings on contested issues, as evidenced by the conduct of a full adult-transfer hearing in the documented criminal case.