JUDGE RHOADS REPORT CARD 

Michael Rhoads was appointed to the Superior Court in December 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom.  Judge Rhoads attended Santa Clara University, earning a B.A in 2006.  In 2009 he received a J.D. from George Washington University Law School.  Rhoads began his career as a law clerk in the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.  In 2010 he joined the California Attorney General’s Office.  In 2012 he became a deputy legal affairs secretary in the California Office of the Governor.  In 2015 he returned to the California Attorney General’s office before becoming a staff attorney for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California.   

Grade: QUALIFIED PASS 

Survey Rating: Judge Rhoads earned a high average survey rating of 6.0 from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts, though relatively few attorneys are familiar with his performance because he has served on the Court less than a year. His highest rating was for professionalism and judicial temperament.  Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 the highest score.  

Case History: Judge Rhoads dismissed two drug-dealing cases on his own initiative during the period of our study, without a motion by the District Attorney. He released defendants prior to trial (or modified their release conditions without placing them in custody or home detention) in 14 felony drug-dealing cases, including 10 cases where the new felony was committed while the defendant was on pretrial release from an earlier case.  Of the 14 judges whose terms are expiring in January 2025, Judge Rhoads and Judge Thompson are similarly likely to release a defendant whose arrest for this case occurred while they were released on their own recognizance for a previous offense. No other judge who is up for reelection appears to have a similar rate, but limited data for the other 12 judges makes a meaningful comparison impossible. 

Examples: None.  

Comments from Court Observers:  

“Very good, patient, good demeanor, does his research, thorough.” 

Appeals: No relevant appeals. 

Media reports: 

Judge Rhoads releases alleged car theft defendant with no evident prior criminal history pending trial: https://www.davisvanguard.org/2023/07/court-watch-judge-gives-a-chance-to-accused-releases-him-pending-trial/ 

In case of mentally-ill man punching someone hard enough to require surgery shortly after being released from prison for a 2022 assault, Rhoads denied a request to downgrade offenses from felonies to misdemeanors and granted a motion to detain him pending trial. Judge Rhoads said there was “substantial likelihood that his release would result in great bodily injury to others.”   

Judge Rhoads Ordered that defendant who robbed several people at gunpoint in the Mission be held to answer for various felony charges. 

(This page remains under construction pending additional data).