Judge
Felony Dispo
San Diego County Superior Court
South County Division
Department/Division:
14
500 3rd Ave
Chula Vista , CA 91910
(619) 746-6014
Retained by election to a full six-year term, San Diego County Superior Court, June 2014; appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the San Diego County Superior Court, May 2013; deputy public defender, San Diego County; 1985-2013; deputy public defender, Los Angeles County, 1978-85; associate, Golden & Martin, San Diego, 1976-78
University of San Diego School of Law, 1976
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 5 decades in criminal law guide Judge Michael J. Popkins from the middle | San Diego County Superior Court | Sep. 30, 2026 |
| Michael J. Popkins | San Diego County (Vista) | Sep. 17, 2014 |
Rulings
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
People v. Glass
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 23, 2025 |
|
People v. Cooks
dismissed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
In re L.M.
affirmed
|
Dependency | Sep. 16, 2019 |
|
In re N.O.
affirmed
|
Dependency | Feb. 1, 2019 |
|
In re E.H.
reversed and remanded
|
Juveniles | Sep. 11, 2018 |
|
In re D.B.
affirmed
|
Juveniles | Aug. 22, 2018 |
|
In re E.A.
reversed
|
Juveniles | Jun. 20, 2018 |
|
People v. Orozco
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 20, 2018 |
|
People v. Alford
affirmed
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 5 decades in criminal law guide Judge Michael J. Popkins from the middle | San Diego County Superior Court | Sep. 30, 2026 |
| Michael J. Popkins | San Diego County (Vista) | Sep. 17, 2014 |
| Case | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
|
People v. Glass
affirmed in part
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Apr. 23, 2025 |
|
People v. Cooks
dismissed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Mar. 31, 2023 |
|
In re L.M.
affirmed
|
Dependency | Sep. 16, 2019 |
|
In re N.O.
affirmed
|
Dependency | Feb. 1, 2019 |
|
In re E.H.
reversed and remanded
|
Juveniles | Sep. 11, 2018 |
|
In re D.B.
affirmed
|
Juveniles | Aug. 22, 2018 |
|
In re E.A.
reversed
|
Juveniles | Jun. 20, 2018 |
|
People v. Orozco
affirmed
|
Criminal Law and Procedure | Jun. 20, 2018 |
|
People v. Alford
affirmed
|
Administrative Agencies | Jun. 19, 2017 |