Hon. James L. Smith (Ret.)

James Smith (Ret.)
T: 714-939-1300
F: 714-939-8710
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Case Manager

Denise Mitchell
JAMS
500 N. State College Blvd.
14th Floor
Orange, CA 92868
T: 714-937-8229
F: 714-939-8710

“[Judge Smith was] able to take the cares and sorrows of interesting, sometimes very complex, clients and communicate to them that their outcome would be just.”

- Prominent OC Attorney

"I enjoy my work. I hope that's apparent to the parties and attorneys I deal with. I believe it makes their jobs easier."

- Judge Smith

General Biography

Specialties

Locations

Available nationwide
Special Master/Discovery Referee

Judge Smith has extensive experience working closely with courts and litigants as a general and discovery referee, as well as a special master. Having spent 27 years on the bench, he brings a working knowledge of handling large and complex matters as both a judge and full time neutral.

He has served as a referee and special master in a wide variety of complex litigation matters, including disputes involving trade secret, home mortgage, major pension fund fraud, construction defect, trust and estate, and product liability issues.

Representative Matters

  • Special master for accounting issues related to crafts industry arbitration 
  • Accounting referee for large arbitration case regarding award of major city contract for waste collection and disposal 
  • E-Discovery master for major commercial dispute regarding copyright and trade secret violations of popular toy 
  • Hearing officer for large city for disputes related to medicinal marijuana 
  • Discovery referee for complex fraud cases 
  • Court reference for numerous employment disputes 
  • Discovery referee for disputes related to mortgage fraud 
  • Special Master for auditing and writ of possession related to matching up invoices and serial numbers with hospital equipment 
  • Discovery referee for countless construction defect disputes 
  • E-Discovery referee for many large federal disputes

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

  • Chair, Presiding Judges Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council, 1995
  • Governing Board, Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER), 1986-1992
  • Judicial Criminal Advisory Committee on Trial Court Coordination, 1974-1978
  • Judicial Criminal Justice Planning Committee, 1974-1978
  • President, Camp Osceola Board of Directors, 1974
  • President, Orange YMCA Board of Directors, 1964-1973
  • Member, Executive Committee, Orange County Superior Court, (7 years, not continuously)
  • Professor, Western State University College of Law, 1972-1989; (teaching Trial Practice, Trial Advocacy, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Introduction to Legal Education)
  • Member, faculty of numerous programs presented by the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) and the California Judges Association (CJA)
  • Taught at the California Judicial College and has served as Team Leader of the Large Court section of the Presiding Judges Institute presented by CJER
  • Participated in numerous CEB programs on various subjects including E-Discovery, Bias In the Workplace, Arbitration Procedures, Effective Mediation Practices, Managing Mental Health and Evidence
  • Served as instructor in Criminal Law for the Orange County Peace Officers Academy
  • "Levity Over Decorum," ADR Profile, Daily Journal, June 14, 2013

Background and Education

  • Judge, Orange County Superior Court, 1980-1995 (Presiding Judge, 1994-1995; Assistant Presiding Judge, 1991-1994; Complex Litigation Panel, 1992-1993; Presiding Judge, Probate Dept. 1987-1988; Supervising Judge, Criminal Panel, 1984-1985; Family Law Panel, 1982)
  • Judge, West Orange County Municipal Court, 1971-1980
  • Sole practitioner with emphasis on litigation, 1967-1971
  • Partner with Schlegel, Friedemann, Kelley & Smith, 1964-1967
  • Deputy District Attorney, County of Orange, 1963-1964 (founded Fraud Div., 1964)
  • Admitted to the California Bar and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1963
  • LL.B. (JD), Hastings College of the Law
  • B.A., University of Redlands

Disclaimer

This page is for general information purposes.  JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness.  Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More

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