Judicial Profile: Department 50
Commissioner Jeffrey Huffaker
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- Biographical Information
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- Date of Birth:
- September 1, 1952
- Place of Birth:
- Berkeley, CA
- Education:
- University of California at Davis
BS in Genetics (1974)
MS in Genetics (1975)
JD (1979)
Admitted to the Bar in 1979 - Pre-bench Legal Experience:
Prior to joining the bench, he had his own practice (Huffaker & Littorno) in east Contra Costa County. His practice began in Antioch, CA and eventually moved to Pittsburg, CA.
His general practice areas were Family Law, Real Property and Probate
- Political Affiliation:
Registered Republican although not an active party member.
Commissioner Huffaker was part of the very 1st Oakley City Council, a non-partisan group. He remained on the Council until joining the bench
- Judicial Experience
He has been serving as a Commissioner in a Family Law assignment for 4-1/2 years. Before that, he volunteered over the years as a Judge Pro Tempore.
- Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
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- Council Member, Oakley City Council
- Board of Directors, Contra Costa County Bar Association
- Founding Member, Family Law Section, Contra Costa County Bar Association
- Board Member, Tri Delta Transit
- Executive Committee Member, East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan Association
- Member, Oakley Advisory Council to the Board of Supervisors
- Member, Oakley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
- Current Civic & Professional Activities
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- Friends of the Library
- YMCA
- Currently serving on CJER’s Family Law Committee
Most of his civic and professional activities were linked to his elected position and so he gave them up when he joined the bench.
- Continuing Legal Education Faculty
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- Instructor in Family Law at CJER’s Family law Overview Course
- Instructor AOC’s Family Law Institute
He has been a guest speaker from time to time
- Guest Speaker, Family Law class, JFK School of Law (Pleasant Hill)
- Guest Speaker, Battered Women’s Association
- Courtroom Policies
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- Be courteous.
- No interrupting. You will always have an opportunity to respond.
- Tell the court what you want the court to do.
- Be prepared. Be organized. Be brief.
- Teleconferencing
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- Not permitted for evidentiary hearings or settlement conferences.
- Allowed for Law and Motion hearings.
- Motions
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- Brevity and organization are important.
- Tell the court up front what you want the court to do. Then Support it.
- Commissioner Huffaker reads the motions so there is no need to repeat the motion in oral argument.
- Discovery
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- Encourages informal discovery.
- Comply with the discovery rules.
- Settlement Conferences
- These are generally a combination of a Case Management Conference and a Settlement Conference.
- ADR
- Encourages parties to mediate.
- In Limine Motions
- Required one week to five days before trial date.
- Witnesses
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- Trial Setting Order must disclose.
- Must disclose expert witnesses.
- Sanctions
- Reserved for improper behavior. For example, deliberate delay.
- Documents
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- Must be submitted prior to trial date.
- The Trial Setting Order will require that documents be attached to the Declarations.
- Decorum
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- Be courteous.
- No name calling.
- Direct comments to the bench.
- No interruptions. Wait for your turn to reply.
- Court Reporters & Translators
- A matter in which a translator is being used will be heard first on short calendars.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Laptops allowed for use as a trial aid.
- Audio-visual
- Because the proceedings are already being recorded, recorders are not allowed.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- No cameras unless good cause shown.
- Advice
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- Be courteous, honest and straightforward. You are an officer of the court.
- Do your homework. Be brief and have good, tight summaries.
- Tell the court what you want the court to do!
