---
title: "Lara Hoffman | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lara-hoffman-ca"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Lara Hoffman

Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara · Superior Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara
- State: California
- Role: Superior Court Judge
- Service status: active

## Summary

Lara Hoffman — Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 2026-present
- Senior Staff Attorney and Lecturer in Law, Stanford Law School, 2020-2026
- Deputy Federal Public Defender, Central District of California, 2012-2020
- Law clerk, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2009-2012
- Law clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2008-2009
- Lara Hoffman, of San Mateo County, was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as a Judge in the Santa Clara County Superior Court, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Roberta S. Hayashi

### Education

- University of California, Los Angeles School of Law — J.D.
- Dartmouth College — B.A.
- University of Pennsylvania — M.A.

### Additional information

- She officially assumed her role following the announcement on June 2, 2026 California State Portal.

## Sources

- [Lara Hoffman Sworn In as Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court](https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/news/lara-hoffman-sworn-judge-santa-clara-county-superior-court)

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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.
