Judicial Profile: Department 16
Honorable Thomas M. Maddock
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- Biographical Information
-
- Place of Birth:
- San Francisco, CA
- Education:
- University of California at Davis, B.A. Economics 1968; Hastings College of the Law, J.D. 1977
- Pre-bench Legal Experience:
- Contra Costa Dep. D.A. 1978-81; Sellar, Hazard, Snyder and Kelly 1981-84; El Dorado Dep. D.A. 1984-86. Public Advisor to the California Energy Commission 1988-91
- Political Affiliation:
- Republican
- Military
- Retired Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
- Judicial Experience
Appointed by Governor Wilson in 1998. Re-elected twice, current term expires 2013. His primary assignment is Unlimited Civil. Has served as Felony Trial Judge, Felony Calendar, Juvenile Court Judge, Branch Court Judge and as Assistant Presiding Judge. Was elected presiding Judge 2005 for 2 year term.
Was appointed as a member of California Judicial Council by Chief Justice Ronald M. George in 2006 for a three year term.
- Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
- Board member of Mount Diablo Red Cross; Chapter President of Reserve Officers Association; member of the Contra Costa, El Dorado and Sacramento Bar Associations; Executive Board of the Knights of Columbus; Undersecretary, Youth and Adult Correctional Agency 1995-1998; Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Veterans Affairs 1993-1995; Deputy Director, Department of Consumer Affairs 1991-1993.
- Current Civic & Professional Activities
- Member of the California Judges Association and its Committee on Legislation; trial judge for county mock trials; Past President of the Contra Costa County Public Law Library Board of Trustees.
- Continuing Legal Education Faculty
- California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) faculty assignments.
- Courtroom Policies
- Compliance with state and local rules of court. Counsel must be professionally attired. Judge will rule from bench when issues are thoroughly briefed and the law is clear.
- Teleconferencing
- Court-call allowed on CMC Hearings, not on OSC’s. California Rules of Court apply for all other appearances.
- Motions
- Rules of Court and local rules strictly enforced.
- Briefs
- Required on complex legal issues and on all law and motion matters. Page limits as per local rules.
- Discovery
- Dept 60 conducts discovery hearings. Parties are required to meet and confer.
- Settlement Conferences
- They are usually held in conjunction with the Issue Conferences. They can be specially set for good cause.
- ADR
- Mediation strongly preferred. ADR always available.
- In Limine Motions
- Must be filed in accordance with local rules.
- Voir Dire
- Judge does majority; each counsel allowed 20 minutes normally for reasonable follow-up.
- Jury Instructions
- Must be prepared and submitted with Issue Conference statement.
- Witnesses
- Submit names in accordance with local rules. Schedule to avoid delays and be on time. You may be deemed to have rested if you run out of witnesses in the middle of the day.
- Sanctions
- Initial sanction for $250 when appropriate, for example, failure to appear, failure to file papers, failure to file proof of service, etc.
- Documents
- Exhibits should be pre-marked with a list for the clerk and a copy for Judge Maddock and opposing counsel.
- Decorum
- No cell phones or pagers allowed in the courtroom unless completely deactivated.
All attorneys are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. - Court Reporters & Translators
- Interpreter should be requested in advance of trial.
- Computers in the Courtroom
- Notebooks/laptops permitted as long as they are used quietly.
- Audio-visual
- TV and VCR available. There’s also a magnetic board and an easel for display of exhibits or diagrams.
- Cameras in the Courtroom
- Not unless timely request shows good cause and is approved.
- Advice
- Be on time. Be prepared.
