Hon. John C. Gastelum (Ret.) joined JAMS as a neutral after a distinguished judicial career, serving as a member of the Orange County Superior Court’s unlimited civil panel from 2010 to 2024. During his tenure, Judge Gastelum handled thousands of law and motion matters, including complex discovery disputes and dispositive motions. Over the course of hundreds of jury and bench trials, he handled a variety of business litigation cases, including partnership and lease disputes, as well as personal injury, real property and contract matters.

Judge Gastelum also served a three-year term on the Orange County Superior Court’s Appellate Division, the last year as assistant presiding judge. He also spent several years as a member of the Superior Court’s ADR Committee. 

Before his appointment to the bench in 2003, Judge Gastelum served as lead appellate court attorney for Justices Thomas Crosby, William Bedsworth and Richard Aronson of the Fourth District, Division Three, Court of Appeal in Santa Ana, California.

Based in the Orange County Resolution Center, Judge Gastelum serves as a mediator, arbitrator, special master, discovery referee and neutral evaluator.

Judge Gastelum handled matters in the following areas during his time on the bench.

Representative Matters

• Business Commercial

• Disputes involving breach of contract and tort claims in commercial transactions; handled cases related to the purchase and sale of businesses, including intellectual property, trade secrets and unfair competition litigation; trials detailing partnership disputes and corporate governance issues
• Dispute concerning the sale of 3D printer equipment and supplies where purchaser attempted to return the machine as “defective” after loss of contract to manufacture 3D print item
• Employment Law

• Handled a variety of employment-related matters, including wrongful termination, wage and hour claims and workplace discrimination cases under state and federal laws such as the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
• Resolved a wrongful termination suit where the plaintiff alleged retaliatory discharge for reporting workplace safety violations
• Personal Injury

• Broad experience in personal injury, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress cases; libel and slander in the context of social media and digital platforms
• Defamation action where the plaintiff claimed that statements made on YouTube were false and defamatory, raising significant First Amendment issues
• Real Property

• Disputes involving property transactions, including landlord-tenant conflicts and allegations of real estate fraud; these cases often involved the interpretation of detailed contractual obligations within purchase agreements and complex percentage rent lease provisions
• Adjudicated a dispute where seller of a commercial property was accused of misrepresenting environmental conditions during the sale, impacting the buyer’s use of the property

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Completed Virtual ADR training as conducted by the JAMS Institute, the training arm of JAMS 

Honors

• Recipient, Trial Judge of the Year, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA – OC), 2014
• Recipient, Trial Judge of the Year, Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (OCTLA), 2014
• Recipient, Distinguished Judicial Fellows Award, Project Youth OCBF, 2021
• Recipient, Judge of the Year, Orange County Hispanic Bar Association (OC HBA), 2022
   

Memberships and Professional Activities

• California Judges Association, 2023—2025
• Orange County Bar Association, 1984—2024
• Member, OCBA Judiciary Committee, 1998—2001
• Judicial Advisory Council/Board of Governors, ABTL Orange County, 2013—2022
• Judicial Advisory Council, Project Youth OCBF, 2008—2020
• Judicial Fellow, Project Youth OCBF, 2018
• Mentor, Saturday Academy of Law Program, UCI School of Law, 2015—2022
• Volunteer Coach, Mock Trial Team, UCI School of Law, 2023—2025
• Program Panelist: OCBA College of Trial Advocacy, Banyard Inn of Court, OCTLA, ABTL-OC, OCTLA
• Member, Board of Directors, Alumni Association, UCLA School of Law, 2001—2004
• Chair, Judicial Officer Mentorship Program, Orange County Superior Court

Background and Education

• Judge, Orange County Superior Court, 2003–2024
• J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1983
  • Member, UCLA Law Review
• B.A., magna cum laude, Economics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 1979