Judicial Profile: Department 31
Honorable Laurel S. Brady
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- Biographical Information
-
- Date of Birth:
- November 1, 1958
- Education:
- University of California, San Diego 1976-1980 and graduated with a B.A. in History. From 1984-1988, she attended Golden Gate School of Law
- Pre-bench Legal Experience:
- Law clerk — Marin Superior Court, Civil Law Motions; Law clerk, California Attorney General
- Judicial Experience
- 10/1996-06/1998 Municipal Court, Richmond — appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson 06/1998 — present Superior Court — elevates by consolidation. Assignments included:
- 06/1998 - 12/1999 Criminal Trials
- 2000-2001 Criminal Calendar
- 2002 Trials
- 2001-2002 Assistant Presiding Judge
- 2003-2004 Presiding Judge
- 2005-2007 Criminal Trials
- 2008-2009 Supervising Judge — Richmond Branch Court
- Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
- District Manager for an office furniture manufacturer. Trade member of AIA, ASID.
- Continuing Legal Education Faculty
- Faculty member for Continuing Judicial Education and Research (CJER)
Certified Instructor for POST (Police Officers Standards and Training).
Have taught classes on evidence, legal motions, competence to stand trial.
Sit on several education committees and act as facilitator for various judicial training programs. - Judge Brady’s hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Courtroom Policies
- Judge Brady will rule from the bench or will issue written orders depending upon the circumstances.
- Teleconferencing
- Judge Brady is not averse to teleconferencing. Teleconferencing, however, is not frequently used for criminal cases.
- Motions
- The judge does not typically hear motions other than in-limine motions. Most other pretrial motions are handled in the pre-trial criminal calendars.
- Briefs
- Judge Brady prefers courtesy copies to be delivered to her chambers. She does not appreciate boiler-plate briefs, finding them to be less helpful.
- Discovery
- In criminal law, reciprocal discovery is required. The trial department does not typically handle discovery issues. Discovery issues are typically handled in the pretrial criminal calendars.
- In Limine Motions
- No preferences.
- Voir Dire
- Judge Brady does a general voir dire with prospective jurors. She allows and believes that attorneys should be permitted to interact with prospective jurors. Depending on the nature of the case, Judge Brady does impose time limitations.
- Jury Instructions
- Judge Brady requires attorneys to provide her with a checklist from Caljic and requires the checklist by the first or second day of trial. Any special instructions must be written.
- Witnesses
- Judge Brady requires a witness list prior to the start of trial.
- Sanctions
- In criminal cases, sanctions are not typically imposed. Judge Brady imposes sanctions under unusual circumstances (such as failure to comply with a direct court order or discovery order). Sanctions can be monetary or other.
- Documents
- If a large number of exhibits will be used, Judge Brady requires the exhibits to be pre-marked with her clerk whenever possible.
- Decorum
- Judge Brady expects professional courtesy to the court, opposing counsel and to all within the courtroom.
- Court Reporters & Translators
- In criminal cases, court reporters are mandated. Interpreters are mandated and provided for defendants but not for witnesses (this is the responsibility of the parties). The court provides the court reporter.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Judge Brady welcomes the use of computers in the courtroom. Criminal cases, however, do not tend to be as high-tech in presentation as civil cases.
- Audio-visual
- Judge Brady welcomes the use of audio-visual in her courtroom. She observes, however, that she has yet to see a PowerPoint presentation in her courtroom.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- Cameras in the courtroom are within the discretion of the court. Judge Brady requires that counsel comply with notice requirements so that the propriety of cameras can be analyzed by the court beforehand.
- Advice
- Judge Brady recommends that attorneys be thoroughly prepared and familiar with their cases so they can anticipate issues that may suddenly arise. She also recommends that attorneys get as much training as they can, such as observing experienced attorneys to learn their techniques.
