A proud son of the border region, the Honorable Luis R. Vargas was born in San Diego County in 1956 and spent his early years in Tijuana, Baja California. By 1960, his family had made South Bay their permanent home—a community that would shape his values and launch a lifelong commitment to justice and public service.
Judge Vargas is a product of South Bay public schools and graduated from Southwestern College in 1976. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Diego State University in 1978 and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1981.
That same year, he began his distinguished legal career as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice. Over thirteen years, he represented the State of California in both criminal appellate and civil matters, eventually leading the Civil Tort and Condemnation Section prior to his appointment to the bench in 1993.
On the San Diego Superior Court, Judge Vargas served with distinction for two decades. He presided over some of the most impactful cases during a time of major legal transformation, including jury trials under California’s newly enacted “Three Strikes” law. He also oversaw the drug courts for several years and served as the Chief Justice’s nominee to the California Council on Criminal Justice.
For the final eleven years of his judicial career, Judge Vargas was assigned to the civil division, where he focused on complex civil litigation and construction defect cases. His leadership extended beyond the courtroom—he was elected by his peers to the San Diego Superior Court’s Executive Committee and later to the executive board of the California Judges Association (CJA), where he served as Vice President. Today, he remains active with CJA’s Legislative Relations Committee and works with the California Bench Bar Coalition to advocate for access to justice.
After retiring from the bench in 2013, Judge Vargas continued to serve the public as Senior Policy Advisor to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, where he offered guidance on civil matters involving the DA’s office and County Counsel. He retired from this role in 2017.
Beyond his legal career, Judge Vargas has played a leading role in civic life through his involvement with the University Club of San Diego. After years of membership, he was elected to the Board of Governors, where he served as Vice Chairman before being named Chairman of the Board in 2022—a position he will hold through the end of 2025.
Judge Vargas is a devoted family man, married to Nuria Vargas. Together they raised three children who reflect his legacy of service: Javier, a Deputy District Attorney in San Diego County; Armando, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Hawaii; and Ileana, a special education teacher in Washington, D.C.
From the courtroom to the community, Judge Luis R. Vargas exemplifies leadership, integrity, and a lifelong dedication to uplifting others. We proudly celebrate his legacy as part of our Latino Excellence series.