Hon. Mark Eaton
Case Manager: Kathleen Emma
Tel: (415) 772-0900 Ext. 14
Judge Eaton has a well-deserved reputation for being dedicated, innovative and a highly successful facilitator of settlements. Such skills earned him the 1995 Trial Judge of the Year award by the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, retired January 4, 1999
Affiliated with ADR Services specializing in settlement conferences, mediation, arbitration, complex litigation, case management and acting as a Special Master and Discovery Referee in civil, family law and probate matters)
January 12, 1982:
Appointed Judge of the Superior Court, County of Alameda. Unopposed for election (six-year term)
1982, 1988 & 1992
January 1997 - January 1999:
Civil jury and non-jury trails, adoptions, case management and settlement calendars
June 1989 - January 1997:
Supervising Judge of the Superior Court Eastern Division. Presided over the Family Law, Probate, Adoption, Law and Motion, case management and settlement calendars
January 1987 - June 1989:
Civil jury and non-jury trials
January - December 1986:
Judge Juvenile Court
December 1982 - January 1986:
Presiding Judge, Criminal
April 1, 1978 - May 30, 1978:
Pro-Tem Justice, Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, division 2 (Assigned by Chairperson of the Judicial Council)
January 30, 1976:
Appointed Judge of the Municipal Court Livermore/Pleasanton Judicial District, County of Alameda; Unopposed for electron (six-year term) 1978
Personal Data
Born November 23, 1938 - Boston, MA
Married Joyce Palter of Malden, MA - November 26, 1961
Two Children: Scott David, born March 2, 1969 and Joshua Bram, born September 26, 1971
Education
The Boston Latin School - Boston, MA (1953-1955)
Needham High School - Needham, MA (1955-1956)
Brandeis University - Waltham, MA (1956-1960)
B.A. - History and Political Science
Stanford University School of Law - Palo Alto, CA (1960-1963) J.D.
California Bar Exam - Fall 1963
Admitted to Bar - January 1964
Professional Experience
| 1951-1955 | Summers and after school - clerk Heights Pharmacy - Needham Heights, MA |
| 1956-1959 | Summers - Laborer Needham Construction Co. - Needham Heights, MA |
| 1960-1962 | Summers - General Bookkeeper and Office Manager Needham Construction Co. - Needham Heights, MA |
| 1956 - 1960 | School year - various jobs including short order cook at the University cafeteria, stock boy for clothing manufacturer and janitor for electronic firm |
| 1959 - 1962 | Water vacation periods - mail carrier and clerk U.S. Postal Office - Needham Heights, MA. (1959-1960) and Palo Alto, CA (1961-1962) |
| 1961 - 1962 | School year - Student research aide Santa Clara County Counsel |
| 1962 - 1963 | School year - Volunteer student legal aid advisor (10 hours/week)Santa Clara Legal Aid Society - received award as outstanding student legal aid advisor - May 1963 |
| 1964 - 1968 | Reader - State of California Bar Examiners - grading Spring and Fall bar examinations and summer first year bar examinations |
| 1964 -1976 | In general practice of law in Livermore, CA Associate with the law firm of Miller, Haygood & Critchfield in 1964 and 1965. From 1966-1976, a general partner in the firm of Miller, Critchfield & Eaton, now Miller, Critchfield, Eaton & Noonan. Specializing in family law, including domestic relations, guardianships and adoptions; business (profit and non-profit), general civil litigation and workers' compensation. |
Professional Activities
Alameda County Judicial Coordinating Committee Member - March 1976 to 1982:
Chairperson July 1977-September 1978
California Judges Association Member - February 1976 to Present
Municipal Courts Workshop Committee Member - September 1978
Mid-Year Conference Faculty Member - Ethics - May 1994
Alameda County Municipal Courts Judges Association Member - February 1976-1982
California Center for Judicial Education & Research (CJER)
Seminar leader for one-week orientation session for newly-appointed judges 3/1977 - 3/1981
Faculty member (Criminal pre-trial and law and motion)
New Judge Orientation Sessions (3) - 1985
Faculty member (sentencing misdemeanants - 4 hours and criminal law and motion - 16 hours) Continuing Judicial Studies Program - January 1981
Seminar leader for two-week session for newly-appointed judges - July 1986
Seminar leader for Family Law and Procedures Institute - March 1990
Alameda County Bar Association Faculty Member - success in Law & Motion Seminar - Spring 1993-1997
The Rutter Group Faculty Member - Family Law Update - 1995
Instructor - Alameda County Sheriffs Academy - 1976-1985
Guest lecturer on numerous occasions at Granada High School, Livermore High School and Las Positas Junior College Alameda County Law Library
Trustee - September 1988-January 1999
Vice President - September 1993-August 1995
President - September 1995-August 1997
Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyer Association 1995 Trial Judge Of The Year
Valley Memorial Hospital - Livermore, CA - Director, July 1982-July 1985
Pacific Health Care - Director, September 1985-June 1989
Alameda County Legal Aid Society - Director, 1970-1992
Moderator for Livermore-Pleasanton Community Television panel shows (3)
American, California, Alameda, Southern Alameda and Eastern Alameda County Bar Associations
Judge Pro Tem in San Leandro-Hayward Municipal Court, Livermore-Pleasanton Municipal Court, Livermore Justice Court and Pleasanton Justice Court
Volunteer legal advisor for over 30 non-profit corporations and associations including
- Southern Alameda County Headstart Program, Inc.
- CAPE (Community Association for Pre-School Education)
- Health Care Concerns Committee, Inc.
- Nursery School Scholarship Fund
- Project Southwest
- Latin Organization for Betterment, Inc.
- Livermore Cultural Arts Council, Inc.
- Livermore Civic Chorus
- Livermore Bicentennial Organization
- Valley Ecology Center
- Churches (16)
- PTA's (4)
Community Activities
Student Education Loan Fund, Director, 1968-1976; President, 1971-1972
Livermore Active 20-30 Club, Member, 1964-1968; President 1967-1968
City of Livermore Beautification Committee (Appointed by City Council), Member, 1968-1971; Vice Chairperson, 1968-1969
City of Livermore Ad Hoc Human Relations Comm. (Appointed by City Council), Member, 1968
Valley Communities Economic Opportunities Org., Member, Legal Advisory Board - 1966-1967
Livermore Chamber of Commerce, Director, 1966-1972; Education Committee Chairperson,
1966-1968; Vice President (civic development), 1968-1969
ACCORD (A Coordinating Committee to Overcome Racial Division), Member, 1968-Present
Livermore Valley Jewish Community Center Trustee, 1970-1971
TEAM (Elementary School PTA), Executive Committee, 1974-1975
Took active role in support of all school and park district bond and /or tax elections as follows:
- Livermore Schools
1969: Finance Chairperson
1971: Area Chairperson
1975: Area Chairperson - Chabot College
1972: Area Chairperson - Park and Recreation District
1972: Executive Committee
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