University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco
(f/k/a/ Hastings College of the Law)
San Francisco, CA
J.D., May 1990;
Moot Court Board
Technical Editor, Constitutional Law Quarterly
University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX
B.G.S., Public Administration (1981)
Graduated cum laude
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE:
California (1990)
U. S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit (1990)
U. S. District Court, N.D. Cal. (1990)
U. S. District Court, C.D. Cal. (2001)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Judge, California Superior Court, Humboldt County
June 2018 to present
Appointed to the Superior Court by Governor Jerry Brown, June 2018.
Primary assignment, June 2018 – June 2022: presided over criminal jury trials, arraignments, OR/bail hearings, pre-trial calendars and sentencing hearings for felonies and misdemeanors, and drug court (a collaborative court).
Primary assignment, June 2022 – current: presiding over civil department, including civil law and motion, limited and unlimited jurisdiction civil jury and bench trials, case management, civil settlement conferences; and presiding over probate court (guardianships, conservatorships, and trusts and estates), CARE Court, and LPS conservatorships. Also preside over family law and criminal cases, as needed.
Assistant Presiding Judge, June 2024 – current: duties include coordinating the Judges in the Classroom program, the Civil Grand Jury, amendments to Local Rules of Court, and assisting the Presiding Judge with other duties as needed.
Appellate Division, July 2023 – current: assigned judge and currently presiding judge of the court’s appellate division, handling misdemeanor and limited civil appeals.
Member, Board of Trustees for the Humboldt County Law Library, 2020-2025.
Court Commissioner, California Superior Court, Humboldt County
April 2017 to June 2018
Hired by the judges of the superior court, first on a temporary basis, then on a permanent basis; presided over court calendars for out-of-custody misdemeanor arraignments, traffic infraction trials, child support hearings, small claims, and unlawful detainers.
Research Attorney, California Superior Court, Humboldt County
July 2016 to April 2017
Reviewed and researched motions, drafted written evaluations of parties’ positions, briefed judges on various civil motions, and conducted other legal research as assigned.
Administrative Analyst, County of Humboldt Probation Department
June 2015 to July 2016
Non-legal position, researched criminal offender statistics for AB 109 realignment population for the adult division of county probation department; review and summarize recent relevant case law.
Attorney
December 1990 to March 2015
Twenty-five years of general civil litigation and appellate practice emphasizing securities and investment fraud, litigation related to arbitration, and consumer/employee law, in state and federal courts, and in arbitration and mediation. Experience includes:
· General business litigation in state and federal court;
· Business organizations, Uniform Commercial Code;
· Laws governing non-profit organizations.
· Summary judgment and other law and motion matters;
· Jury and bench civil trials, appeals and administrative hearings;
· Extensive legal research in state and federal case law, codes, and rules of court;
· Interview clients and witnesses;
· Discovery and depositions
Mediator & Arbitrator
Former experience includes:
· court-appointed mediator for the California Superior Court for Marin County (including personal injury, medical malpractice, business disputes, securities disputes, real estate);
· arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
· arbitrator for the former Pacific Stock Exchange;
· over 80 hours of formal training as a mediator and arbitrator
· volunteer mediator with Humboldt Mediation Services.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
California Association of Collaborative Courts (CACC), member
California Judges Association (CJA), member
National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ), supporting member
American Bar Association, Judicial Section member
American Judges Association
LAW-RELATED VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Mentor Attorney, Teen Court, Eureka CA
Former volunteer mentor attorney with the California Superior Court, Humboldt County Teen Court program, through the Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods, which provides a peer-based alternative to the traditional juvenile court system for youths who are first-time offenders.
Editor & Contributing Author, PIABA Bar Journal
Former editor of a quarterly bar journal; responsible for soliciting articles relating to securities regulation and investment law, working with authors, and technical editing prior to publication; and reviewed, analyzed and summarized relevant new case law and regulations.
Committee On The Administration Of Justice, State Bar of California
Former volunteer committee member; reviewed and prepared recommendations to State Bar Board of Governors regarding proposed legislation and rule changes.
Pro Bono Attorney,Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services
Former pro bono representation of low income clients in family law matters for child custody and child support issues.
Advocate, Board Of Directors, General Assistance Advocacy Project, San Francisco
Former paid staff, volunteer, and board member with non-profit corporation, assisting impoverished clients obtain General Assistance, food stamps, and other social services.
PUBLISHED DECISIONS & ARTICLES (as an attorney)
Richard L. Sacks v. Sec. & Exch. Comm’n, 648 F.3d 945 (9th Cir. 2011)
Broadcort Capital v. Dutcher, 859 F.Supp. 1517 (S.D.N.Y. 1994)
Petrie v. Pacific Stock Exchange 982 F.Supp. 1390 (N.D.Cal. 1997)
Reed v. MSC, 106 Cal.App.4th 1359, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 524 (2003)
Fiduciary Duty in California, PIABA Bar Journal, December 2000
Elder Abuse Remedies in Securities Arbitration, PIABA Bar Journal, April, 2004
Panelist: Choice of Law in Arbitration; Elder Abuse Remedies in Securities Arbitration.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Youth soccer leagues— Current grass-roots referee and referee mentor with Humboldt Youth Soccer League, through USSF and CNRA; and former president of and volunteer with Mad River Youth Soccer League
Humboldt Folklife Society: current board member and financial supporter
Humboldt Mediation Services: former board member, current financial supporter
Financial supporter of many local non-profits, including Food for People, Humboldt County Historical Society, Changing Tides Family Services, Eureka Rescue Mission.
PERSONAL
Married, two sons (oldest son lives and works in San Francisco Bay Area; youngest son passed away in 2016)
Interests include hiking, learning piano and violin, barn dances, and downhill skiing.