Biographical Information
- Education: San Francisco State University BA in Liberal Studies; John F. Kennedy School of Law JD
- Pre-bench Legal Experience: Solo-practitioner practicing in the areas of Personal Injury, Employment Law; violations of the DFEH and EEOC, Estate Planning, Family Law and several other areas of civil law; Attorney III with the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services
Judicial Experience
2023-Family Law Department
2021-2023- Commissioner Contra Costa County Superior Court- presiding over Traffic trials, Traffic arraignments, Unlawful Detainer matters, Small Claims matters, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders and Misdemeanor arraignments.
Pre-bench Civic & Professional Activities
2019-2021- Pro Tem Judge- Contra Costa and Solano Counties
2016-2018- Parent Representative- African American Parent Group WCCUSD
2016-2017- PTA President – Stewart School WCCUSD
2015-2019 Board President- Coventry Home Owner’s Association
Current Civic and Professional Activities
Robert G. McGrath American Inn of Court Member
California Black Lawyers Association Member
Courtroom Policies
Compliance with Applicable Rules. All parties and attorneys are expected to strictly comply with all applicable court rules and procedures, including, but not limited to, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Family Code, the Court’s Local Rules, the California Rules of Court and any standing orders (the “Applicable Rules”).
Required “Meet and Confer.” All parties and attorneys are expected to abide by any meet and confer requirements set by the Applicable Rules. This includes the obligation to meet in confer, in good faith, on all requests for relief and related issues presented in any Request for Order, as required by Rule 5.98 of the California Rules of Court (“CRC”) and Rule 5.4 of the Court’s Local Rules. See CRC, Rule 5.98(a); Local Rule 5.4(a).
Attendance at Hearings. All parties and attorneys shall be present on time for all court sessions. Parties may appear via zoom after first submitting notice to the court and receiving an order allowing appearance to be permitted via zoom. All participants are responsible for ensuring that they have an adequate and functioning audio and video connection for any remote appearances on the Zoom® platform.
Stipulations and Agreed Upon Continuances. Where the parties or attorneys have fully resolved a matter set for hearing or jointly seek to continue a hearing by agreement, the parties or attorneys should notify the clerk in Department 26 promptly by way of a joint letter request containing signatures by all parties or their counsel.
Imposition of Attorneys’ Fees and Costs as Sanctions. The failure to comply with the Applicable Rules may result in the imposition of sanctions against a party or their attorney. Parties and their attorneys are admonished that conduct which frustrates the policy of the law to promote resolution of litigation and to reduce the cost of litigation may result in an award of attorneys’ fees and costs being imposed against a party or attorney, including, but not limited to, pursuant to Family Code section 271, CRC Rule 5.14, and/or Code of Civil Procedure section 177.5.
ADR
The Court encourages parties and their counsel to consider and participate in any and all forms of alternate dispute resolution (ADR) appropriate to the pending case and the issues in it. This includes private mediation where feasible on disputed issues in addition to any court provided ADR.
Decorum
All parties and attorneys are expected to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum at all times. Disruptive behavior or uncivil conduct are not acceptable. Parties and attorneys shall not interrupt each other or the Court when the other party or the Court are speaking. This is among the most important of the hearing decorum expectations enforced in Department 26. All remarks should be addressed to the Court rather than to the opposing party or attorney unless the Court invites the parties to confer directly on a matter. The courtroom is not a forum for the parties to argue between themselves. Neither attorneys nor any party should indicate approval, disapproval, or otherwise react to any testimony or argument in a distracting or discourteous manner. Attorneys are admonished to read and adhere to the “Standards of Professional Courtesy” set forth in the Court’s local rules. See Local Rule 2.90 et al.
Court Reporters and Interpreters
Parties should follow all Applicable Rules and practices with respect to arranging for court reporting and interpreter services. If you wish to avoid the possibility of having a matter continued due to the lack of court reporter, the parties should confer in advance on and arrange for the appearance of a private court reporter (or have one on phone standby) if the parties are not otherwise agreeable to proceed without a reporter.
Typical weekly schedule
8:30am-Noon and 1:30pm-4:30pm (Monday- Friday)
Monday
8:30am Short Cause Calendar (Attorney Represented Matters)
1:30 and 2:30 Mandatory Settlement Conferences
Tuesday
8:30am Short Cause Calendar (Self Represented Litigant Matters)
1:30pm Short Cause Calendar (Self Represented Litigant Matters)
Wednesday
8:30am Short Cause Calendar (Attorney Represented Matters)
1:30 and 2:30 Mandatory Settlement Conferences
Thursday
Trials and Long Cause Hearings
Friday
Trials and Long Cause Hearings