--- title: "Cindy Dobler Davis | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cindy-dobler-davis" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Cindy Dobler Davis Superior Court of California, County of San Diego · Superior Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Superior Court of California, County of San Diego - State: California - Role: Superior Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 2013-present - Commissioner, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, 2006-2013 - 1999–2006: Head Deputy City Attorney, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, leading the consumer and environmental protection unit - 1995–1999: Senior litigation associate, Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps LLP - 1993–1994: Law clerk to U.S. District Judge William B. Enright, Southern District of California ### Education - 1993 — University of San Diego - San Diego State University — B.A. (1989) ### Additional information - Term: Ends January 8, 2029 - 2024: Judge of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego - Re‐elected: June 7, 2022, unopposed under California’s nonpartisan judicial election system - Appointed: December 27, 2013, by Governor Jerry Brown, replacing the retired Hon. Steven R. Denton - Admitted to the State Bar of California in 1993 - Domestic violence calendar - Department: Department 9, East County Court - San Diego Behavioral Health Court - Under San Diego local rules, remote participants in civil trials must submit and serve all evidence at least five court days before trial, and require clerk permission to share exhibits or information from a computer screen. - Served on the Awards Committee of the National Association of Women Judges - Former president of Lawyers Club of San Diego - Active in the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program board ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### remote screen sharing Scope: courtwide For San Diego remote hearings, the clerk must grant permission before a participant can share exhibits or information from a computer screen. Evidence excerpt: If you are expecting to need to share exhibits or information from your own computer screen during a hearing, please be familiar with how to show your screen in a Teams meeting. The clerk will need to grant permission for you to be able to share your screen. [How to Appear for Your Hearing](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/virtualhearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote trial evidence Scope: courtwide Unless the assigned judge orders otherwise, evidence for a civil trial with a remote participant must be submitted to the court and served at least five court days before trial. Evidence excerpt: parties appearing remotely must submit and serve all evidence to the court at least five court days prior to the scheduled trial date [San Diego Local Rules, Division II - Civil](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/sdcourt/generalinformation/localrulesofcourt/division_ii_-_civil_2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### electronic exhibit format Scope: courtwide E-filed exhibits must be bookmarked to each exhibit, identified by number or letter and description, and submitted as text-searchable PDF files. Evidence excerpt: E-filed documents that contain exhibits must include electronic bookmarks with links to the first page of each exhibit and titles that identify the exhibit number or letter and briefly describe the exhibit. [San Diego Local Rules, Division II - Civil](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/sdcourt/generalinformation/localrulesofcourt/division_ii_-_civil_2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### media storage exhibits Scope: courtwide Absent court permission, media storage devices cannot be attached as exhibits to motions or pleadings; the media must be lodged instead. Evidence excerpt: Absent leave of court, the court will not accept for filing any media storage device, such as a Compact Disc (CD), Digital Video Disc (DVD), or flash drive, that is attached as an exhibit to a motion or pleading. [San Diego Local Rules, Division II - Civil](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/sdcourt/generalinformation/localrulesofcourt/division_ii_-_civil_2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### audio video recordings Scope: courtwide To obtain pre-hearing review of an audio or video recording, the party must lodge the recording and file a transcript of the relevant portions as an exhibit. Evidence excerpt: Lodge the recording and file a transcript of the relevant portions sought to be considered by the court as an exhibit. [San Diego Local Rules, Division II - Civil](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/sdcourt/generalinformation/localrulesofcourt/division_ii_-_civil_2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### audiovisual evidence Scope: statewide A party offering an electronic sound or sound-and-video recording must provide the court and opposing parties a transcript and provide opposing parties a duplicate of the recording. Evidence excerpt: the party must provide to the court and to opposing parties a transcript of the electronic recording and provide opposing parties with a duplicate of the electronic recording [California Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_1040) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote proceedings Scope: statewide California courts should permit remote participation in covered civil proceedings, subject to the statute, local rules, and controlling orders. Evidence excerpt: courts should permit parties to appear remotely at conferences, hearings, and proceedings in civil cases consistent with Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75 [California Rule 3.672, Remote proceedings](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_672) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote participants and witnesses Scope: statewide Covered civil parties and witnesses may appear remotely, and the court may conduct proceedings in whole or in part using remote technology. Evidence excerpt: that party or witness may appear remotely and the court may conduct conferences, hearings, and proceedings, in whole or in part, through the use of remote technology [California Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=367.75.&lawCode=CCP) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast except as Rule 1.150 permits. Evidence excerpt: Except as provided in this rule, court proceedings may not be photographed, recorded, or broadcast. [California Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/one/rule1_150) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### expedited jury trial presentations Scope: statewide In expedited jury trials, parties may use slides, electronic presentations, projections, exhibit notebooks, and other methods approved at the pretrial conference. Evidence excerpt: the parties may present summaries and may use photographs, diagrams, slides, electronic presentations, overhead projections, individual notebooks of exhibits for submission to the jurors, or other innovative methods of presentation approved at the pretrial conference [California Rule 3.1551, Case presentation](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1551) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### expedited jury trial pretrial agreements Scope: statewide Voluntary expedited jury trial submissions must identify party agreements concerning electronic presentations and other proposed presentation methods. Evidence excerpt: Any agreements of the parties to use photographs, diagrams, slides, electronic presentations, overhead projections, notebooks of exhibits, or other methods of presenting information to the jury [California Rule 3.1548, Pretrial submissions for voluntary expedited jury trials](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1548) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### exhibit admission Scope: statewide An exhibit must be admitted by the judge before it may be used in the case. Evidence excerpt: The judge must to allow you to admit the exhibit as evidence in order for you to use it in your case. [How to introduce exhibits at a trial](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/how-introduce-exhibits-trial) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts/judges-roster) - [Official roster](https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts/judges-roster) - [Judicial Branch of California official judicial roster](https://courts.ca.gov/courts/superior-courts/judges-roster) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/13395/cindy-dobler-davis/) - [California Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_1040) - [California Rule 3.672, Remote proceedings](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_672) - [California Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=367.75.&lawCode=CCP) - [California Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/one/rule1_150) - [California Rule 3.1551, Case presentation](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1551) - [California Rule 3.1548, Pretrial submissions for voluntary expedited jury trials](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_1548) - [How to introduce exhibits at a trial](https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/how-introduce-exhibits-trial) - [How to Appear for Your Hearing](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/virtualhearings) - [San Diego Local Rules, Division II - Civil](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sites/default/files/sdcourt/generalinformation/localrulesofcourt/division_ii_-_civil_2026.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/13395/cindy-dobler-davis/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cindy-dobler-davis", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/cindy-dobler-davis", "name": "Cindy Dobler Davis | KnowJudges", "description": "Cindy Dobler Davis, Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=file/roc-title-2.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [California Civil Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-b2d4d123885851a5fcca88dd) — Civil proceedings; Rule 3.10 and specialized-case exclusions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=file/roc-title-3_3.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [California Criminal Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-f6b70a7925331d01ac4f3da8) — Criminal proceedings only. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=file/roc-title-4.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [California Family and Juvenile Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-b35daaa50a3da8133dcea76d) — Family and juvenile proceedings only; a general Superior Court assignment does not establish a personal family/juvenile assignment. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=file/roc-title-5_3.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [California Probate Rules and Mental Health Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7c869f3fd279fe758c2d41be) — Probate and mental health proceedings only; a general Superior Court assignment does not establish a personal probate assignment. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/system/files?file=file/roc-title-7.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [California Rule 2.1040, Electronic recordings presented or offered into evidence](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-cece5afa480bc6cbddca965c) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/two/rule2_1040). Collected 2026-07-26. - [California Code of Civil Procedure section 367.75](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e40ba2699f4d3d815dac46ca) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=367.75.&lawCode=CCP). Collected 2026-07-26. - [California Rule 1.150, Photographing, recording, and broadcasting in court](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e59897426ff892cfcd8e0103) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/one/rule1_150). Collected 2026-07-26.