Rated Exceptionally Qualified by the San Diego County Bar Association
Valerie Summers has fought for crime victims, their families, and the People of the State of California as a Deputy District Attorney for over 33 years. She is dedicated to fair and equal justice through her commitment to public safety, victims’ rights and the rule of law. Read More
ENDORSEMENTS
ORGANIZATIONS
San Diego County Deputy District Attorneys’ Association
San Diegans Against Crime
San Diego County District Attorney Investigators' Association
San Diego County Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association
San Diego Police Officers' Association
San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs' Association
San Diego County Probation Officers’ Association
Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)
California Association of Highway Patrolmen
Carlsbad Police Officers’ Association
Chula Vista Police Officers’ Association
Coronado Police Officers' Association
El Cajon Police Officers’ Association
Escondido Police Officers’ Association
La Mesa Police Officers’ Association
National City Police Officers’ Association
Oceanside Police Officers’ Association
San Diego Harbor Police Officers’ Association
National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association (NAPIPA)
Latino American Political Association of San Diego
Deputy City Attorneys’ Association
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
Crime Victims United
California Women’s Leadership Association
“Valerie Summers has been a steadfast advocate for crime victims while fighting for justice in every case that she has prosecuted. For many victims of violent crimes, the criminal justice system can seem painfully uncaring and impersonal, and victims sometimes feel unheard. But Valerie has always treated victims with dignity, compassion and respect. She has been recognized time and again for her prosecutorial excellence and her dedication to those living with the aftermath of violent crime.” - Susan Fisher, Former Director of the Doris Tate Crime Victims Bureau
San Diego’s most experienced criminal defense attorneys
James Dicks, Herbert Weston, Marc Carlos, Tanya Weston, Joni Eisenstein, Jeff Reichert, Mary Ellen Attridge, Brad Patton, Sherry Stone, Matt Mohun, Jay Curatalo, Michael Flemming, Domenic Lombardo, Jeffrey Martin, Barton Sheela, Jack Campbell, William Rafael, Vincent Garcia, Paul Neuharth, Patricia Valdovinos, James Fitzpatrick and Gloria Collins.
OFFICIALS
Summer Stephan - District Attorney, San Diego County
Jason Anderson - District Attorney, San Bernardino County
Robert Brewer, United States Attorney, Southern District of California (Ret.)
Kevin Faulconer, Mayor of San Diego (Ret.)
John Franklin - Mayor of Vista
Bill Gore, San Diego County Sheriff (Ret.)
David Greenberg, Assistant District Attorney (Ret.)
Randy S. Grossman, United States Attorney, Southern District of California (Ret.)
Mike A. Hestrin - District Attorney, Riverside County
Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Supervisor (Ret.)
Brian Jones - California State Senator
Jordan Marks - San Diego County Assessor / Recorder / County Clerk
George Marquez - District Attorney, Imperial County
Patrick McGrath, Rear Admiral, United States Navy (Ret.)
Ron Roberts, San Diego County Supervisor (Ret.)
Bill Wells - Mayor of El Cajon
Shelley Zimmerman, San Diego Chief of Police (Ret.)
JUDGES
Hon. Lorna Alksne, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Robert O. Amador, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Carlos O. Armour, Superior Court Judge
Hon. David L. Berry, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Blaine K. Bowman, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Frank Brown, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Gary M. Bubis, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Anthony J. Campagna, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Timothy M. Casserly, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Rachel Cano, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Patricia K. Cookson, Superior Court Judge
Hon. David Danielson, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Harry M. Elias, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Ana L. España, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Selena Dong Epley, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Herbert J. Exarhos, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Eugenia A. Eyherabide, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Jeffrey F. Fraser, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Ronald F. Frazier, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Cynthia Freeland, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Peter L. Gallagher, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Johnny C. Gogo, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Daniel B. Goldstein, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Irma E. Gonzalez, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Kelly Hansen, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Louis R. Hanoian, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Michelle Ialeggio, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Robert J. Kearney, Superior Court Judge
Hon. K. Michael Kirkman, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Evan P. Kirvin, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kimberlee A. Lagotta, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Janet Kitner, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Melinda J. Lasater, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kathleen M. Lewis, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Daniel F. Link, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Adelaida Lopez, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Peter A. Lynch, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Earl Maas, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Frederick Maguire, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Runston G. Maino, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kenneth J. Medel, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kelly C. Mertsoc, Commissioner of the San Diego County Superior Court
Hon. Lilys D. McCoy, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Marcella O. McLaughlin, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Pennie K. McLaughlin, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kelly C. Mok, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Richard R. Monroy, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Alejandro Morales, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Dwayne K. Moring, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Robert F. O'Neill, Superior Court Judge
Hon. John G. Pro, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Charles G. Rogers, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Daniel Segura, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Polly H. Shamoon, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Saba Sheibani, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Michael T. Smyth, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Kenneth K. So, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Jackie Stern, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Steven E. Stone, Superior Court Judge
David M. Szumowski, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. Sherry M. Thompson-Taylor, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Robert J. Trentacosta, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Leonard N. Trinh, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Carlos Varela, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Timothy R. Walsh, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Michael D. Washington, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Joan P. Weber, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Bradley A. Weinreb, Superior Court Judge
Hon. Browder A. Willis III, Superior Court Judge (Ret.)
Hon. William Y. Wood, Superior Court Judge
ABOUT VALERIE SUMMERS
As a prosecutor, Valerie Summers has dedicated her life to fighting for justice for all members of our community. She excelled as a leader in the District Attorney’s office, overseeing the most serious and violent cases where the most vulnerable of our community have been harmed. She was Chief of the Family Protection Division (2013-2016.) The Family Protection Division was one of the largest divisions in the office, prosecuting domestic violence and domestic homicides; child stealing, child abuse and child homicides; and elder abuse and elder homicide. She was Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division (2011-2013). The Sex Crimes Division sought justice for victims of sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. She was the Assistant Chief of the Gang Prosecution Unit (2007-2011) which addressed murder and other violent crimes committed by gang members. Prior to managing divisions of prosecutors she was also a felony trial team leader in both the Major Violator Team, which prosecuted career criminals who committed violent and serious felonies such as robbery and burglary series, and in the North County Branch.
Valerie has been entrusted with and successfully prosecuted some of the most horrific murder and rape cases committed in the county, to name just a few: People v. Scott Erskine, who in 1993, sexually assaulted and murdered 9-year-old Jonathan Seller and 13-year-old Charlie Keever. People v. Jesse Gomez, who in 2016 opened fire on two San Diego Police officers on patrol, killing Officer Jonathan DeGuzman and seriously injuring his partner. People v. John Frediani, who murdered a woman he had sexually assaulted more than a year before in Northern California, for the purpose of eliminating her as a witness against him. People v. Kevin Ford, who raped and murdered a 79-year-old woman who had been hired to transport to a medical appointment. People v. Marlon Johnson, who murdered an adult father and son with whom he had a conflict at a bus stop. People v. Arturo Rios, who kidnapped and raped a 70-year-old woman who was walking home from the movie theater.
In addition to her leadership positions and proven track record of successful prosecutions, Valerie has been committed to the training of her fellow attorneys, justice partners, the community, and college students. She has been recognized as the statewide expert on Sentencing Law, and over her career she has trained on a variety of subjects including Felony Sentencing, The Law of Homicide, Trial Advocacy, and DNA Analysis. In addition to her prosecutorial and legal training expertise, she has taught criminal justice related Sociology courses at California State University, San Marcos from 1996-2005; and she has taught criminal justice related Sociology courses at the University of California, San Diego since 2007.
Valerie’s commitment to justice has been recognized by her peers and law enforcement. The San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association awarded her Prosecutor of the Year (2022); the Edwin L Miller, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award (2019); the Charles Nickel Award for Excellence in Training and Legal Education (2014); and multiple Outstanding Achievement Awards (2001, 2004). She is the recipient of the California District Attorneys Association George Williamson Career Achievement Award (2022) and received the California District Attorney Investigators’ Association Prosecutor of the Year Award (2019). The San Diego Police Officers’ Association recognized her dedication to serving and protecting the public and delivering justice for SDPD Officer JD DeGuzman and his family (2021).
Valerie is a graduate of San Diego State University (go Aztecs!) and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. She has resided in San Diego for more than 35 years. She is undoubtedly dedicated to our community and a true public servant who is exceptionally qualified to be a Superior Court Judge.