Biographical Information
- Education: B.A., Political Science, J.D., Master of City & Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley
- Pre-bench Legal Experience: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Office of General Counsel, Washington, D.C., 1980-1984; San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation, 1984-1988; California Attorney General’s Office, Environment Section, 1988-2009
- Political Affiliation: Democrat
Judicial Experience
General Criminal assignments, Pittsburg, Richmond. Supervising Judge in Richmond 2012. Family Law 2013-2015 (Supervising Judge 2015); Civil/Probate 2016-2018; Complex Litigation Judge 2018 to present; currently Civil Division Supervising Judge, Assistant Presiding Judge.
Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
Various school and youth sports activities
Recent Publications
“Are Settlement Talks Confidential?” California Lawyer, November, 2009.
Courtroom policies:
See “Handy Guide to Department 39” and Complex Litigation Department pre-trial orders on Court website.
Typical weekly schedule
Short-cause calendar weeks alternating with long-cause calendar weeks. Cases with both parties self-represented heard each Tuesday morning.
Teleconferencing
Telephone appearances by advance written permission in accordance with CRC and local rules.
Cameras in the Courtroom
Case by case.
Advice
Be prompt, be courteous, be concise.
Updated 3/23/2022