---
title: "Godofredo Magno | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/godofredo-magno"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Godofredo Magno

Superior Court of California, County of Riverside · Superior Court Judge, Civil Calendar and Trials, Historic Courthouse, Department 7

## Profile

- Court: Superior Court of California, County of Riverside
- State: California
- Role: Superior Court Judge, Civil Calendar and Trials, Historic Courthouse, Department 7
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-28

## Summary

Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, 2017-present
- Appointed to the Riverside County Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown on November 2, 2017, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michele D. Levine
- Registered Democrat and has a long-standing career in public defense, having held the role of a deputy public defender from 1998 to 2014 and as a supervising deputy public defender from 2014 to 2017
- Since joining the bench, Judge Magno has presided over the Felony Vertical Calendar Department at the Hall of Justice in Riverside County
- Recognized as the first Filipino American judge to serve in Riverside County

### Education

- Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine and his J.D. from Southwestern University Law School in 1997.
- University of California-Irvine — B.A.

### Additional information

- Mazda Motor of America, Inc., among others filed in July 2026.
- Notably, he has presided over recent cases such as Emma Lizeth Duarte Contreras vs.
- FCA US LLC and Laurie Gurnick vs.
- He has handled a variety of cases, including high-profile civil and criminal matters.
- Known for employing unique tactics to keep jurors engaged, reflecting his experience in managing complex trials, including death penalty jury selections.
- His legal education laid the foundation for his extensive work in criminal defense and public service.

## 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

### electronic evidence presentation

Scope: judge specific

Judge Magno's Department 7 is a digital courtroom and encourages joint electronic presentation of evidence; its trial directions require pre-marked, digitally submitted exhibits and use of the courtroom document camera.

Evidence excerpt: Department 7 is a digital courtroom, equipped to allow the electronic presentation of evidence. Counsel is encouraged to present evidence electronically

[Department 7 Court Rules](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/2026-02/Dept.%207%20Court%20Rules.pdf?cb=1772484230)
Source checked: 2026-07-28

### pretrial exhibit exchange

Scope: courtwide

Riverside Local Rule 3401 requires trial counsel to exchange witness and exhibit lists no later than 14 days before trial; undisclosed non-impeachment exhibits may be excluded.

Evidence excerpt: Not later than 14 days before the date set for trial ... counsel for all parties shall exchange ... A list of all exhibits that the party intends to introduce at trial

[Riverside Superior Court Local Rules](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/2026-07/completerules%20%281%29_ADA_output.pdf?cb=1784644706)
Source checked: 2026-07-28

### electronic trial exhibits

Scope: courtwide

Riverside requires exhibits to be numbered in advance and page-numbered, and encourages counsel to exchange exhibits electronically in a standardized format.

Evidence excerpt: Counsel are encouraged to exchange their exhibits electronically in a standardized format.

[Riverside Superior Court Local Rules](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/2026-07/completerules%20%281%29_ADA_output.pdf?cb=1784644706)
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://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/judicialassignments.pdf?cb=1775147842)
- [Official roster](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/judicialassignments.pdf?cb=1775147842)
- [Superior Court of California, County of Riverside official judicial roster](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/general/judicialassignments.pdf?cb=1775147842)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14208/godofredo-cuison-magno/)
- [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)
- [Riverside Superior Court Local Rules](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/2026-07/completerules%20%281%29_ADA_output.pdf?cb=1784644706)
- [Department 7 Court Rules](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/system/files/2026-02/Dept.%207%20Court%20Rules.pdf?cb=1772484230)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/14208/godofredo-cuison-magno/)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [California Trial Court Rules](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-9f680f8d47ee26f7ea1a6bce) — Applicable trial-court proceedings; individual rules may be limited to civil, criminal or other case types. 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.
