Judge Robert J. Trentacosta: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Robert J. Trentacosta is a judge for the Superior Court of San Diego County in California. He was appointed to the bench by former governor Gray Davis in 2001.

Trentacosta earned a B.A. from the State University of New York in 1976. He then received a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1979.

He began his legal career as a deputy city attorney in the Office of the City Attorney of San Diego. During his five-year tenure there, he served in its civil litigation division as well as its criminal division.

Then, in 1985, he left the public sector. He joined Schall, Boudreau, and Gore as a shareholder, eventually becoming a co-managing partner for Boudreau and Trentacosta in 1991. In these positions, he specialized in negligence, products liability, and professional malpractice.

Trentacosta has served as chairperson for the Judicial Ethics Committee of the California Judges Association. He has also served as a member of the Judicial Branch Futures Commission.

He received the Hope Award in recognition for his work in establishing the Behavioral Health Court for the Superior Court of San Diego.

Trentacosta has taught as an adjunct professor at California Western School of Law as well as the University of San Diego School of Law.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York.