Judge David Walgren has served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court since 2012,  following his appointment by Governor Jerry Brown. He brings to the bench more than three decades of legal experience and a lifetime rooted in Los Angeles. 

Born in Panorama City and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Walgren is the son of a Los  Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and a mother who emphasized hard work and accountability. He worked throughout high school and college, taking on a wide range of jobs that shaped his respect for working people and the real-world impact of the justice system. 

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA with a degree in Political Science and earned his law degree from UC Davis School of Law. While in law school, he clerked for Superior Court  Judge Paul Boland and Court of Appeal Justice Rodney Davis, gaining early experience in the courtroom that would later define his career. 

Walgren spent nearly 17 years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney, where he handled some of the most serious and complex cases in the county. He served in the Hardcore  Gang Division and the Major Crimes Division, prosecuting violent crime and high-profile cases with discipline and precision. He was the lead prosecutor in the case against Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson, securing a conviction in one of the most closely watched trials in the country. In 2012, the Los Angeles County Bar Association named him Prosecutor of the  Year. 

That same year, after a rigorous vetting process, Governor Jerry Brown appointed him to the  Superior Court. 

On the bench, Judge Walgren is known for being prepared, even-handed, and respectful to everyone who appears in his courtroom. He runs a disciplined courtroom where cases move,  decisions are made, and the law is applied fairly and with compassion. His approach is straightforward: listen carefully, apply the law, and treat people with dignity. 

He is a father of two, a daughter in college, and a son adopted from Ethiopia, and lives with his family in Los Angeles County.

Outside the courtroom, he remains active in sports and outdoor activities, including surfing,  mountain biking, and backpacking. 

Judge Walgren brings experience, judgment, and integrity to the bench, along with a clear commitment to fairness, accountability, and respect for the law.