The Hon. Erica R. Cortez is a commissioner for the San Diego County Superior Court in California. She was appointed to the bench in 2022.
Cortez earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and political science from San Jose State University in 2004. She then completed a J.D. at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2009.
After graduating from law school, Cortez entered into private practice as a litigation associate at Ungaretti & Harris. She worked in that capacity until 2011, at which time she joined the San Diego County Office of County Counsel. During her tenure there, she rose through the ranks, quickly becoming senior deputy county counsel.