Judge Susan M. Jakubowski

Judge Susan M. Jakubowski serves on the San Mateo County Superior Court, having been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in July 2018. Her judicial profile, while limited in documented ruling volume, reveals a jurist who is willing to make legally and politically difficult decisions when the evidence and law support them. The most prominent data point available is her June 2024 ruling in the high-profile Dharmesh Patel case — a matter involving a physician accused of intentionally driving his Tesla off the Devil's Slide cliff with his family inside. Despite intense prosecutorial opposition and significant public attention, Judge Jakubowski ruled that the defendant was incompetent to stand trial and ordered mental health treatment rather than criminal prosecution. This ruling demonstrates a willingness to apply competency law as written, even when the outcome is unpopular or runs counter to prosecutorial pressure. What distinguishes Judge Jakubowski from a purely data-driven profile is the nature of the one case for which substantial public record exists: she prioritized statutory and constitutional compliance over outcome-driven prosecution. This suggests a judge who takes procedural and due process protections seriously, is not easily swayed by prosecutorial momentum or media pressure, and is willing to exercise independent judicial judgment on contested legal questions. Given the limited data available — six profile fields, no attorney observations, and no analyzed rulings beyond biographical context — attorneys should treat this profile as a baseline intelligence document. The confidence level is accordingly modest, and practitioners are strongly advised to supplement this analysis with direct courtroom observation, local bar association intelligence, and review of any published or accessible San Mateo County Superior Court orders bearing her signature.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Jakubowski should understand that her most documented decision reflects a judge who follows the law as written rather than bending to prosecutorial or public pressure. In criminal matters, this means defense counsel should not assume that high-profile or emotionally charged facts will override procedural protections — competency, mental health, and due process arguments appear to receive genuine consideration. Prosecutors, conversely, should be prepared for rigorous scrutiny of their legal positions and should not rely on the severity of the alleged conduct as a substitute for legal argument. In civil matters, where no specific data exists, the prudent approach is to assume Judge Jakubowski values well-organized, legally grounded briefing. Attorneys should lead with statutory authority and case law rather than equitable appeals alone. Given her demonstrated independence in the face of opposition, do not assume that the weight of prosecutorial or institutional authority will carry the day — she appears to evaluate the merits on their own terms. Because this profile is built primarily on biographical and appointment data with one notable case as context, attorneys should invest in pre-hearing courtroom observation. Attend a motion calendar or case management conference before your first substantive appearance to assess her procedural preferences, tolerance for oral argument, and courtroom demeanor firsthand. Local San Mateo County practitioners who have appeared before her are an invaluable supplemental resource.

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  Conduct Pre-Hearing Courtroom Observation

  Given the near-absence of behavioral data in this profile, attending a motion calendar or case management conference before your first substantive appearance is critical. Observe her procedural preferences, oral argument tolerance, and how she interacts with counsel.

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  Consult San Mateo County Local Bar Practitioners

  Attorneys with regular practice in San Mateo County Superior Court will have firsthand knowledge of Judge Jakubowski's courtroom preferences, pet peeves, and tendencies that no public dataset captures. This intelligence gap must be filled through direct practitioner consultation.

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  Research San Mateo County Court Records for Her Orders

  Search Trellis, CourtListener, and the San Mateo County Superior Court's own docket system for any written orders, tentative rulings, or minute orders bearing her signature. Even a handful of documents will meaningfully improve prediction accuracy.

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  Prepare Thorough Legal Authority for Any Mental Health Arguments

  Whether you are advancing or opposing mental health-based arguments, prepare comprehensive statutory and case law support. Her Patel ruling confirms she engages seriously with this area of law and will expect counsel to do the same.

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  Anticipate Independent Judicial Analysis

  Do not assume that institutional weight, prosecutorial consensus, or popular narrative will carry your position. Prepare arguments that stand on their own legal and factual merits, as her documented behavior suggests she conducts independent analysis.

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  Review San Mateo County Local Rules and Standing Orders

  Ensure full compliance with San Mateo County Superior Court local rules and any standing orders issued by Judge Jakubowski's department. Procedural compliance signals professionalism and avoids unnecessary friction in a courtroom where behavioral data is limited.

• ›Arrive prepared with thorough legal authority — her documented ruling reflects careful legal analysis, and she likely expects the same from counsel appearing before her.
• ›Do not rely on the emotional weight of facts or the severity of alleged conduct as a substitute for legal argument; her Patel ruling demonstrates she applies the law as written regardless of public or prosecutorial pressure.
• ›Treat mental health, competency, and due process arguments with full seriousness — dismissing or minimizing them without substantive legal rebuttal is unlikely to be effective.
• ›Observe standard San Mateo County Superior Court courtroom protocols: address the court formally, do not interrupt, and direct all argument to the bench rather than opposing counsel.
• ›Given the absence of behavioral data, err on the side of formality and thorough preparation until you have direct courtroom experience with her preferences.