Hon. James R. Trembath

Hon. James R. Trembath (Ret)

Qualifications

Served on the Contra Costa Superior Court for 13 years

Supervising Civil Fast Track Judge, term concluding December 31, 2002

Education

1964    J.D.   Hastings College of Law

1961    B.A.   University of California, Berkeley

Assignments

Supervising Civil Judge

Trial, Case Management, Law in Motion and Settlement Judge on Civil Fast Track (8 years)

Appellate Department Supervising Judge and Appellate Department Judge

Felony Criminal and Family Law

Varied cases including Juvenile

In conjunction with the Contra Costa Bar Association, organized and presided over new bench-bar settlement program (October 2002)

Extensive work with Contra Costa ADR programs

Served as ADR Chairman, with ADR Director, implemented the EMP (Early Mediation program) piloted by Contra Costa County Superior Court. Attended various AOC program ADR conferences.

Judicial Experience

Superior Court Judge: 1990 - 2003
Appointed by then Governor, George Deukmejian
Reelected twice without opposition

Trial Experience

Extensive jury and court trial experience including, but not limited to, the following: personal injury, medical, dental, and other professional malpractice and other tort matters, construction defect, class actions, employment, real estate (including environmental, land use, etc.) business (including high tech, and B&P 17200 matters), elder abuse, educational law, civil rights, insurance coverage, and indemnity.

Law Practice

1967 - 1990 TREMBATH, McCABE, SCHWARTZ, EVANS, LEVY & DAWE as founding senior partner. Initially engaged in general law practice, including personal injury with emphasis on Real Estate, and later specialized in Real Estate Transactions & Litigation and Business & Bank Litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

1965 - 1966 Served as Prosecutor and Civil Practitioner.

1965 Sworn in January 1965 to practice before all State Courts, Federal District Courts and Courts of Appeals.

Special Training

  • Master's Forum Invitational (Mediation)
    Pepperdine University, 2000 and 2002
  • Advanced Dispute Resolution for Judges
    California Judicial Education and Research (CJER), 2002
  • John Paul Jones Mediation Seminar
    National Judicial College, 2001
    Reno, Nevada
    Pepperdine University
  • Mediation Seminar
    California Judicial Education and Research (CJER), 1999
  • Straus Dispute Resolution Training Seminar
    Pepperdine University, 1988

Publications

  • Co-author of "Real Estate Litigation"
    California Civil Practice, Westgroup (Bancroft-Whitney)
    From Inception to Present

Teaching & Lecturing

  • "Mediation in the Courts"
    National Judicial College, June 2003
  • Panel Member, Judicial Council proposed New Jury Instructions Seminar
    Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California and Nevada
    February 21, 2003
  • "Judicial Settlement Conferences"
    Contra Costa Bench Bar Panel, 2002
  • "Mediation Training"
    California Judicial Education and Research (CJER), 2001
    Monterey, California
  • "Judicially Supervised Settlement Conferences"
    "MCLE Spectacular", 2001
  • "Judicial Settlement and Mediation"
    Superior Court Bench, 2000
    Martinez, California

Awards & Memberships

  • 1995 Judge of the Year
    Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyer's Association
  • Robert McGrath-Inns of Court
    Member

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This page was last modified in June 2007

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