On November 2, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Simmons as a judge of the San Diego County Superior Court to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge David M. Szumowski.[6][7] He left the state bench in March 2023 when he was appointed to the federal bench.
Federal judicial service
On July 14, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Simmons to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[3] Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein support his nomination.[8] President Biden nominated Simmons to the seat vacated by Judge Anthony J. Battaglia, who assumed senior status on March 31, 2021.[9] On November 30, 2022, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee.[10] On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate. He was renominated on January 23, 2023.[11] On February 9, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by a 13–8 vote.[12] On March 1, 2023, the Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 51–45 vote.[13] On March 9, 2023, his nomination was confirmed by a 51–43 vote.[14] He received his judicial commission on March 10, 2023.[15]
