The judges of Yolo Superior Court have elected Judge Daniel P. Maguire to serve as presiding judge and Judge David W. Reed as assistant presiding judge for 2021-22. Their terms will begin Jan. 1.
The presiding judge is responsible for the administration of the court in addition to his regular judicial duties in the courtroom. With the assistance of the court executive officer, the presiding judge, or “PJ,” leads the court, establishes policies, allocates resources to promote public access to justice and promotes efficiency in court operations and service to the public.
Following his election to the position of presiding judge, Maguire lauded current Presiding Judge Samuel McAdam for leading the court “through some rough waters, especially this year.”
“His leadership and guidance during COVID-19 was essential for the court to remain open and operating during these difficult and complex times. The upcoming year will also be full of change and challenges for the court, and we look forward to continuing to provide safe and efficient access to justice,” Maguire said.
Maguire was appointed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Yolo Superior Court bench in 2010. He received his juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1992 and was a private-practice attorney as well as a deputy legal affairs secretary under Schwarzenegger prior to his appointment.
Since then, Maguire has had criminal, probate and civil assignments during his tenure, currently presiding in the family law department.He will rotate to a juvenile-court assignment starting in 2021.
Judge Reed started his career with the court as a court referee, presiding over traffic court, small claims and unlawful detainer cases prior to his appointment to the bench in 2009, also by Schwarzenegger. He received his law degree in 1983 from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.
Prior to his work with the court, Judge Reed was a self-employed lawyer in Yolo County for 23 years, his general law practice emphasizing criminal law. His court assignments have included criminal, family, civil and probate calendars and he currently is assigned to a criminal calendar.