Hon. William V. Gallo, Ret.

Judge William V. Gallo’s extensive litigation experience spans his 14 years of service as a United States Magistrate Judge and more than 20 years of service as a state and federal prosecutor.

Appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in 2009 and serving as the Presiding Magistrate Judge from 2020-2022, Judge Gallo’s duties primarily pertained to resolving civil lawsuits and any discovery disputes that arose during litigation. Having presided over more than 2,500 settlement discussions, he oversaw a wide array of matters including employment, intellectual property, Lemon Law, ADA, FDCPA, FTCA, class actions, and personal injuries.

Prior to his appointment, Judge Gallo served as a prosecutor at the state and federal levels for a combined 23 years, including 18 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in San Diego. He tried approximately 200 jury and bench trials as a criminal trial attorney. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Judge Gallo earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant and served from 1978-2005, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Most notably, he was called to active duty as a reservist in response to a Presidential call up in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In 2008, Judge Gallo deployed to Iraq to serve as the Director of the Law and Order Task Force, reporting directly to General David Petraeus.

Regarding his approach to dispute resolution, Judge Gallo stated, “I’ve learned that the case before me is the most important matter in the lives of the parties, regardless of the amount of money possibly at stake. Consequently, it has been my guiding principle to always keep that in mind when I engage with the parties and to treat every one of them with respect and dignity.”

william.gallo@judicatewest.com 619-814-1966 https://www.judicatewest.com/adr/william-gallo