Following a 27-year tenure on the United States District Court for the Central District of California, this neutral entered private practice to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master. His judicial career involved presiding over thousands of cases across diverse legal sectors, including complex multidistrict litigation and high-profile civil rights matters. Before his appointment to the federal bench by President Clinton in 1996, he spent 17 years in private practice handling significant business litigation and served as a parole commissioner and deputy city attorney.
A highly experienced former federal judge suitable for high-stakes mediation and complex arbitration in California and nationally.
Appointed by President Bill Clinton, he served nearly three decades as a federal judge and was recognized by the Los Angeles County Bar Association as the 2023 Outstanding Jurist.
He is widely regarded by legal professionals for his deep intellectual engagement with complex legal issues and his fair, balanced temperament during high-stakes litigation. Peers frequently note his ability to manage intricate class actions and sensitive civil rights cases with exceptional judicial skill.