He served as a judge of the San Diego County Superior Court from 2017 to 2023.

[5] 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.

[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.

[10] On January 3, 2023, his nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate.