As listed in the 2026 California Roster.
Fourth Appellate District · Division One
William Dato
Associate Justice · California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One (San Diego)
Official court biography
Background and experience
William Dato joined the Fourth District Court of Appeal in February 2017 after 13 years on the San Diego Superior Court. His earlier work included private appellate practice and staff-attorney roles at the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
- University of California, Los Angeles — law degree, 1980
- San Diego State University — bachelor’s degree in political science and economics, 1977
- San Diego Superior Court — 13 years, including supervising judge of the North County branch and presiding judge of its appellate division
- Certified appellate law specialist in private practice
- Appellate court staff attorney — California Supreme Court and California Court of Appeal
- Adjunct teaching — University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law
Read the official biography of William Dato ↗ · California Courts · checked