San Jose, California - Hon. Catherine A. Gallagher (Ret.), former Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, announced today that she has joined JAMS, The Resolution Experts, the nation’s largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services. Judge Gallagher has settled thousands of cases during her 25-year judicial career with compassion, fairness and integrity. She is based in the JAMS San Jose Resolution Center.
“One of the things that’s exceptional about Judge Gallagher is that she has experience in all aspects of dispute resolution, which she gained while serving in every division of the Santa Clara County Superior Court,” said Chris Poole, JAMS President and CEO. “She is known for her skilled handling of numerous factors that sometimes create obstacles to settlement. We are pleased to welcome her to our San Jose panel.”
“I look forward to joining the talented team at JAMS, where I can utilize my conflict resolution experience to solve problems for our Northern California clients,” said Judge Gallagher.
Since 1989, Judge Gallagher served on the bench of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, including a two-year assignment as Presiding Judge (2007, 2008). As Assistant Presiding Judge (2005-2006), she supervised the creation of a Unified Family Court, which was established to settle cases with issues affecting children, parents and guardians. Previously, she had served as a Municipal Court Judge (1984-1989) and Deputy District Attorney (1979-1984) in Santa Clara County. Judge Gallagher began her legal career at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a staff attorney in 1975, including an assignment as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (1979-1981) in San Francisco.
Among her many honors, Judge Gallagher was named the 2008 Trial Judge of the Year by the Santa Clara Trial Lawyers Association. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Michael Patiky Miller Luminary Award from the Silicon Valley Bar Association. She has also been recently recognized by the Saint Thomas More Society and the Women Lawyer Committee of the Santa Clara Bar Association.
Judge Gallagher is a member of the National Association of Women Judges; lifetime member of California Women Lawyers; and the Santa Clara Bar Association. She earned her J.D. from Georgetown University’s Law Center in 1974, and received her B.A. from St. Mary’s College in 1971.
About JAMS, The Resolution Experts
Founded in 1979, JAMS, The Resolution Experts, is the nation’s largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services. With Resolution Centers nationwide, JAMS and its 250 full-time, exclusive neutrals are responsible for resolving thousands of the nation's most important cases. JAMS may be reached at 800-352-5267.