Judicial Profile: Department 59
Commissioner Joel Golub
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- Biographical Information
-
- Date of Birth:
- 1948
- Place of Birth:
- New York, New York
- Education:
- Northeastern University, B.A., 1970
Brooklyn Law School, J.D., 1973 - Pre-bench Legal Experience:
- Legal Aid Society of New York, staff attorney, 1974-1977: performed criminal appellate defense, including Writs of Habeas Corpus. San Quentin prison, senior law clerk, 1977. American Jewish Congress, legal director, 1977-1978: provided legal assistance to the elderly which included such areas of law as consumer law, civil law, evictions, unlawful detainers, general civil legal services. Bay Area Center for Law and the Deaf, legal director, 1978-1980. Other activities include the American Jewish Congress where he worked on areas such as affirmative action and litigating constitutional law issues. Opened his own practice in 1980 in San Francisco, with a general law practice in such areas as immigration, injury disability law and wrongful termination
- Political Affiliation:
- Democrat
- Judicial Experience
- In 1993, Commissioner Golub was appointed to the Contra Costa County Municipal Court, which later became a part of the Contra Costa County Superior Court by virtue of court consolidation, in 1998. His primary assignments are traffic, small claims, unlawful detainer and juvenile trials, civil and criminal jury and court trials and law in motion. He has also served as a judge and traffic commissioner pro tempore for the Marin Municipal Court from 1986 to 1993; as an arbitrator for the Superior Court of Marin County, 1985-1993; as a judge pro tempore for the San Francisco Municipal Court, 1985-1993; as an arbitrator/hearing officer for the San Francisco Rent Board, 1985-1987; as a hearing officer for the State Bar of California, 1981-1984; as an officer of mental health for Alameda County, 1990-1993.
- Current Civic & Professional Activities
- YMCA advisory board; youth baseball and soccer; graduate of California Judges’ College, 1993; nominated pro bono judge of the year in 2000/2001.
- Continuing Legal Education Faculty
- California Judicial Studies Program,1999-present: criminal law.
- Courtroom Policies
- Commissioner Golub rules from the bench whenever possible and has no preference between bench and jury trial. He tries to be equitable to all parties involved.
- Teleconferencing
- Not possible in department 59, has permitted it in Department 51.
- Briefs
- Briefing depends upon the date of submission and the circumstances of each case. Commissioner Golub will consider the input of counsel.
- Settlement Conferences
- Commissioner Golub encourages settlement conferences, which he personally conducts. Location depends on the number of parties involved. Commissioner Golub accommodates requests for early conferences and conferences on the day of trial. He will speak with clients about settlement, but only with consent of counsel.
- Voir Dire
- Conducts most of voir dire, but permits counsel some time to follow up.
- Jury Instructions
- Counsel should submit proposed jury instructions before voir dire.
- Sanctions
- Commissioner Golub imposes sanctions, but only as a last resort. Sanctions average $250-300.
- Decorum
- Counsel should stand when addressing the court and use the lectern. Generally, they may move around the courtroom and approach witnesses without permission. Sidebar conferences are held at the sidebar and should be kept brief.
- Court Reporters & Translators
- Commissioner Golub uses court reporters in Department 59 but other departments do not have the capability. Counsel or litigants may bring a personal recorder to record proceedings upon the court’s approval. Commissioner speaks Spanish and uses sign language.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Counsel may use a quiet laptop computer at the table.
- Audio-visual
- The courtroom has a blackboard, TV, and VCR which can be used a necessary.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- News media still and video photography allowed so long as it is not disruptive to the court proceedings.
