Q&A with S.D. Cal. Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard

Interviewed by Christian Andreu-von Euw

Judge Allison H. Goddard is a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California who joined the court on August 1, 2019. Before her appointment, Judge Goddard was known for her work representing employees and consumers in class actions. She also represented numerous patent holders in intellectual property disputes. Her trial resume includes several class actions, employment cases, and a patent infringement case. Judge Goddard earned the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award in 2017 from Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for her work in a high profile case against San Diego State University. She was named to the Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers List in 2018. Judge Goddard served as President of the Federal Bar Association in 2009 and as a lawyer representative for the Southern District of California from 2011 to 2013. She is also a former member of the Federal Courts Committee. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston College and her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego.

Can you give us a brief overview of your career?

I went to law school at University of San Diego School of Law and graduated in 2000. When I graduated, I had an offer from Cooley Godward to do business litigation. So I went to work for Cooley for four years. I did a lot of work on the defense side, focusing on class actions and complex litigation. The partners I worked with most were Michael Rhodes and Michelle Doolin. Both taught me how to practice law and I owe them a lot for that.