Private Judging
As budget cuts and courtroom closures continue to create severe backlogs in the public court system, private judging has become an increasingly vital alternative. Traditional family law courts are overburdened, leading to lengthy delays, rising legal expenses, and judges who may lack specialized experience in family law.
Serving as a Private Judge, I offer an efficient, highly tailored approach that resolves family law disputes with greater speed, privacy and precision.
I have served as a Private Judge and arbitrated disputes in all aspects of family law. Contact me today for a consultation.
The Advantages of Working with a Private Judge
- Immediate Access & Reduced Costs: Without the constraints of a crowded court calendar, hearings can be scheduled right away. Resolving matters without prolonged delays significantly reduces overall legal expenses.
- Specialized Expertise: Public court judges are often rotated across various legal divisions, meaning they may not have deep expertise in complex family law matters. With decades of dedicated practice as a family law attorney, mediator, and arbitrator, I bring targeted depth and nuance to every case.
- Dedicated Attention: Because I manage a select caseload, I have the time to thoroughly analyze the evidence, understand the underlying history, and give your matter the focused attention it deserves. This depth of understanding leads to detailed, enforceable orders that are less prone to post-judgment litigation.
- Greater Control & Flexibility: When both parties agree, we can modify standard courtroom procedures to streamline the process, creating a more constructive environment for resolving sensitive issues.
How Private Judging Works
In private judging, both parties typically retain independent counsel. The parties sign a written stipulation agreeing to appoint a Private Judge, which is then submitted to the court and signed by a public judge. This confers the exact same legal authority upon the Private Judge as a sitting bench officer.
While my goal is always to help parties reach a mutually beneficial agreement, I retain full judicial authority to issue binding rulings based on the law, the facts, and—most importantly—the best interests of any children involved. Any final orders issued are fully binding and enforceable by the courts and law enforcement.
Call me today at (650) 823-9959 to get started.