Hon. Edward Stern (Ret.)

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Hon. Edward Stern (Ret.) retired from the San Francisco Superior Court on January 4, 1994. Immediately following his retirement, Judge Stern joined JAMS. He divides his time at JAMS between mediations and arbitrations. The mediations frequently involve complex multi-party cases. The arbitrations invariably involve cases of a complex nature.

ADR Experience and Qualifications

  • Judge Stern has acted as the mediator or arbitrator in hundreds of cases at JAMS involving areas of law such as construction disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith, legal and medical malpractice, personal injury, employment issues, product liability, environmental issues, class actions, fee disputes, sexual discrimination and harassment, and all manners of business litigation.
  • While on the court and particularly as its Presiding Judge, he was prominent in establishing a program encouraging the use of mediation as a means of relieving the court of its heavy case load. This program's success was demonstrated by invitations from the U.S. District Court, Northern California and the Alameda County Superior Court to conduct programs for the judges designed to similarly teach and encourage the use of mediation.
  • He has taken a leading role in establishment of JAMS special panel of highly experienced arbitrators, dedicated to deciding cases in a timely, impartial manner as required by the evidence and the law.
  • Extensive experience as a Special Master and Referee in complex multi-party litigation.


Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

  • Recognized as One of the Bay Area's Top 10 Arbitrators, The Recorder, 2002
  • California Trial Lawyers Association 1993 Superior Court Judge of the Year
  • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association 1991 Superior Court Trial Judge of the Year
  • First and only San Francisco County Superior Court Judge to be elected by his colleagues to a second term as Presiding Judge of the entire court
  • Original member, Board of Directors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers in San Francisco
  • Lecturer at numerous judicial institutes, including conducting seminars for mid-career judges on behalf of the Center for Judicial Education and Research.

Background and Education

  • Judge, San Francisco Superior Court, 1980-1994; Presiding Judge, 1991, 1992; Assistant Presiding Judge, 1991
  • Associate Justice Pro Tem, California Supreme Court and First District Court of Appeal, 1983
  • San Francisco Municipal Court, 1979-1980
  • Senior and Founding Partner, Stern, Stotter & O'Brien, a civil litigation law firm, until his appointment to the bench
  • LL.B., Harvard University Law School, 1948
  • B.A., New York University, 1945