Judge Trina L. Thompson: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

CA Bar #: 128656 (June 1987)

Biography

The Hon. Trina L. Thompson is a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden on January 3, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 18, 2022.


Prior to her appointment, Thompson was a judge for the Alameda County Superior Court, a position to which she was elected in 2002. Before that, she spent time as a juvenile court commissioner for the Alameda County Superior Court (2001 to 2002). Over the course of her judicial career, Thompson presided over felony and misdemeanor trials, holding assignments on the Mentor Diversion Program for juvenile first-time offenders.


Thompson earned a B.A. in legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1983. She went on to complete her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, in 1986.


After graduating from law school, Thompson began her legal career as a clerk for the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office. She served in that capacity until 1987, at which time she was hired as an assistant public defender. Then, in 1991, Thompson opened her own private practice as a sole practitioner, handling criminal defense, juvenile dependency, adoption, and guardianship matters in San Jose (1991 to 1995) and Oakland (1991 to 2000).


Thompson has served as the chair of the Alameda County Educational Task Force. Her other memberships have included the California Young Lawyers Association, the California Public Defenders Association, the Charles Houston Bar Association, the Women Defenders, and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. She has also been involved with the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.


She is a recipient of the Jurist of Distinction Award from the Women Lawyers of Alameda County (2019) and the Raymond Pace Alexander Award from the National Bar Association (2019).


Thompson, who grew up in Oakland and Vallejo, California, was a member of her high school and college track-and-field team. She still enjoys running in her free time.

Recent Cases by Hon. Trina L. Thompson

On October 23, 2025 a commercial - fraudulent transfer case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

1 File
Filed

Oct 23, 2025

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Commercial - Fraudulent Transfer

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Contractual Fraud

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 23, 2025

On November 27, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 27, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 30, 2016

On November 26, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 26, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 15, 2013

On November 26, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 26, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 25, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 25, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 25, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 25, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 25, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 25, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 25, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 25, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 21, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 21, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 21, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 21, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 20, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 20, 2013

Status

Other

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 20, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 20, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 20, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 20, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 20, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 20, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 19, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 19, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 01, 2014

On November 19, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 19, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 19, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 19, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 23, 2013

On November 19, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 19, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 19, 2013

On November 18, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 18, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 18, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 18, 2013

Status

Other

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 18, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 18, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 15, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 15, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013

On November 14, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 14, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 05, 2013

On November 13, 2013 a civil case was filed in the jurisdiction of Alameda County. Judge Trina L. Thompson presiding.

Filed

Nov 13, 2013

Judge

Hon. Trina L. Thompson Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Trina L. Thompson

Court

Alameda County

County

Alameda County, CA

Court Category

Civil

Practice Area

Family

Matter Type

Domestic Violence

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 12, 2013