Hon. David C. Lee
Judge Lee has served the Alameda County court system for well over thirty years. Beginning as a Research Attorney for the probate court in 1970, he was elevated to Commissioner of that court three years later. After serving as the probate commissioner for the next nine years, in 1982 he was elected to the Superior Court bench in 1982, and reelected in several subsequent elections.
Prior to his retirement in 2003, Judge Lee has had a variety of assignments during his twenty- year tenure on the Superior Court. Assigned to a civil trial calendar immediately after his initial election to the Superior Court bench, it was here that Judge Lee first discovered his innate ability to resolve matters. Also recognized by his peers for his settlement talents, Judge Lee was asked to continue to do civil settlements once a week during the entire course of a nine-year criminal appointment as the Law and Motion judge.
For the past eight years, Judge Lee's reputation has grown as he effectively managed a calendar of 350 plus of cases while serving as one of the courts case management judges. Named Trial Judge of the Year in 1999 by the Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, he found that the key to his success on the bench was his ability to manage his caseload through the early resolution of innumerable matters.
Areas of Expertise
During his extensive judicial career, Judge Lee has tried cases within the entire spectrum of civil litigation including: Asbestos, Business Litigation, Discrimination (i.e. age, gender, race, sexual orientation), Environmental (i.e. toxic torts and clean-up), Real Estate, Bad Faith, Intellectual Property and Trade Infringement, Product Liability, Malpractice (i.e. legal, medical), Unfair Business Practices, Insurance Coverage and Personal Injury. He was even assigned by the Chief Justice to be the California State Coordination Judge for a Business and Professions Code §17200 toxic product case (which he settled).
As the Case Management judge, he was responsible for conducting settlement conferences on all types of subject matter before the court. He also has tried several hundred matters covering all aspects of probate and probate related issues while serving both as commissioner and judge.
Educational Background
Judge Lee is a 1959 graduate of the University of Texas. He then served in the Navy for four and one half years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. Upon his return to civilian life with a wife and two children, he earned his law degree as a 1969 graduate of Golden Gate University College of Law.
Non-Judicial Legal Experience
- Member of the Executive Committee of the State Bar section on Probate, Trust and Estate Planning, 1976-1983
- Advisor to the California Law Revision Commission, 1979-1981
- Lecturer and Panel Moderator for the Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) 15 plus times, 1975-1985
- Faculty for the California Judges College, 1984-1985
- Faculty Trial Judge, Hastings College of Law Trial Advocacy Program, 1986-1990
- Founding president and Member of the Board of Directors of Legal Assistance for Seniors, 1980-Present
Recognition
- Awarded "Citizen of the Year" by the Bay Area Community Services, 1986
- Recognized for Public Service by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, 1997
- Named "Trial Judge of the Year" by the Alameda, Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, 1999
This page was last modified in June 2007
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