Judicial Profile: Department 27
Honorable Peter A. Berger
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- Biographical Information
-
- Date of Birth:
- February 15, 1945
- Place of Birth:
- Oakland CA
- Education:
- B.A. UC-Davis — ’66 in Political Science
UC-Berkeley — ’69 Law - Pre-bench Legal Experience:
- 22 years as Public Defender in CC County
- Political Affiliation:
- Decline to state
- Judicial Experience
- Appointed by Governor Wilson in January 1994 to the Municipal Court. Challenged and elected in November 1994. Elevated to the Superior Court during the statewide court consolidation.
- Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
- Active in Boalt Law School activities. Member of several professional associations.
- Current Civic & Professional Activities
- Same as above.
- Courtroom Policies
- Generally rules from the bench. Judge Berger does not like taking matters under submission unless necessary as that can delay processing the case.
- Teleconferencing
- This is encouraged in civil matters where it is a useful tool. He encourages attorneys to use this given today’s freeway congestion.
- Motions
- Judge Berger is primarily involved with criminal cases. He relishes those few motions that are well thought out and well crafted as distinguished from the routine boilerplate motions commonly filed.
- Briefs
- Judge Berger relishes the appropriate use of the English language. Spell check, in and of itself, does not guarantee correct usage of the language. Lawyers should read over their briefs to assure they are pieces of understandable English prose; they should not sound stilted and overblown. Be succinct.
- Discovery
- Not an issue. This is a court of limited jurisdiction. Follow the rules of economic litigation.
- Settlement Conferences
- Encouraged.
- ADR
- Great. A good tool.
- In Limine Motions
- Follow local rules of court which require such motions to be in writing.
- Voir Dire
- Judge Berger does the initial voir dire prior to attorney participation.
- Jury Instructions
- Local rules cover civil cases. For criminal cases, attorneys need to submit requested instructions at the earliest opportunity.
- Witnesses
- Judge Berger would like a complete list of all potential witness or those that may be mentioned for use during jury selection.
- Sanctions
- Issued when appropriate.
- Decorum
- Turn off your beepers, pagers and cell phones before entering the courtroom. Those that go off during court are subject to seizure. No food or drink should be brought into the courtroom either. Please, no chewing gum.
- Court Reporters & Translators
- Interpreters are provided in criminal cases. Notify the court well prior to trial date when an interpreter is necessary. The court reporter is present as required. Use of personal recording devices is prohibited without the Judge’s permission.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Parties may bring a laptop that is battery operated but the courtroom is not wired for plug-in computer use by parties.
- Audio-visual
- No high tech aides are provided by the court. However, if appropriate, parties may bring their own.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- This must be in accordance with the rules of court and may not occur without the Judge’s permission.
- Advice
- Be prepared and be prompt. The more succinct your presentation is the better.
