A Commitment to Justice: Judge Nicole S. Healy Named Judge of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hon. Stephanie Garratt
Phone: 650 261-5109

A Commitment to Justice: Judge Nicole S. Healy Named Judge of the Year

Redwood City, CA - October 7, 2026 - The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, is pleased to announce that the Honorable Nicole S. Healy has been selected to receive the "Judge of the Year Award" from the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association. The award recognizes Judge Healy’s dedication to the judiciary, her commitment to the legal community, and her continued service to the people of San Mateo County.

"We are incredibly proud of Judge Healy and this well-deserved recognition," said Presiding Judge Stephanie Garratt. "Judge Healy brings a tremendous depth of experience, professionalism, and dedication to her work. She is deeply committed to the people who come before her and to ensuring that our court serves the community with fairness, integrity, and respect."

Judge Healy was appointed to the Superior Court of San Mateo County on July 30, 2021, and currently serves as the Supervising Judge of the Civil Division. As a direct-calendar judge, she presides over a broad range of civil matters, including complex class actions; labor disputes, including class and PAGA actions; contract and business disputes; claims against government agencies; writ petitions; land use and real property matters; and personal injury cases. She also serves as the assigned elections judge and is one of two judges assigned to CEQA matters.

Throughout her career, Judge Healy has brought a strong commitment to public service and the law. She received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a B.A. in Art Studio and a B.S. in Design.

Following law school, Judge Healy began her legal career with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., initially in the Attorney General’s Honors Program. She then joined the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, where she focused on investigations and prosecutions involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), defense procurement fraud, and other transnational white-collar matters. She also participated in the U.S. government’s negotiations of three international anti-corruption treaties.

Judge Healy later returned to California and joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where she focused on securities class actions, shareholder derivative lawsuits, and business disputes. She also devoted time to pro bono work, including serving on a trial team that obtained a $4 million verdict against a member of a Chilean death squad.

She subsequently joined Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley, where she continued her civil litigation practice and handled a wide variety of matters.

In addition to her work on the bench, Judge Healy has shared her knowledge and experience as a frequent speaker and author on topics including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering. She was also the author of The Anti-Money Laundering Deskbook, published by the Practicing Law Institute (PLI).

The Judge of the Year Award recognizes not only Judge Healy’s extensive legal experience, but also the dedication and professionalism she brings to her role as a member of the San Mateo County Superior Court.