JUDGE MONICA WILEY REPORT CARD

Monica Wiley was appointed to the Superior Court in September 2009 by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Judge Wiley earned her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992 and her J.D. from Howard University Law School in 1995.  She began her legal career as a legal research attorney for Judge Garcia of the Superior Court in 1995.   She then joined the San Francisco Office of the City Attorney, specializing in litigating civil rights cases.  In 2007 Judge Wiley joined Carlson, Calladine and Peterson to handle complex civil, catastrophic personal injury and bad faith insurance cases for both individual and corporate defendants. Her current term ends on January 6, 2025. 

Grade: PASS

Survey Rating: Judge Wiley earned the highest average survey rating (6.8) from trial attorneys who closely observe the courts of all the judges evaluated. Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 the highest score. When asked which judge they would want to appear before for an important trial for a serious crime, fully half of trial attorneys surveyed named Judge Wiley among the top three judges, including one respondent who listed her as their top choice.

Refused to answer any questions posed to judges regarding voter education, appeals of their decisions, published writings, judicial application, etc.

Case History: Judge Wiley did not issue orders on any narcotics sales cases during the period of our study.

Example: None.

Comments from Court Observers:

“She called out former DA Boudin when he made a racist statement in her court. She sometimes exhibits a sense of humor in court, can be obnoxious.”

“Not much criminal (law) experience.”

Appeals: No relevant appeals.

Media reports:

An interview with Judge Wiley: https://www.unlockingtheclub.com/unlocking-the-judiciary-system-with-monica-f-wiley/

Quotes on diversity and the court: https://www.sfbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/diversity-on-the-bench.pdf

Judge Wiley’s background: https://calatj.org/commissioners/mwiley

Questions and answers with Judge Wiley: https://www.law.com/therecorder/almID/1202498825978/