Hon. Gilbert G. Ochoa (Ret.) Joins JAMS in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES – JAMS, the premier provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Hon. Gilbert G. Ochoa (Ret.) has joined its panel. Judge Ochoa joins JAMS following more than 40 years of combined legal and judicial experience, including nearly two decades on the San Bernardino County Superior Court and approximately 35 years focused on civil litigation.

During his judicial tenure, Judge Ochoa presided over hundreds of civil jury and court trials involving personal injury, product liability, employment, construction, real property, environmental and public agency disputes. He also served for more than 10 years as the court's designated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) judge, as well as civil supervising judge and presiding judge of the Appellate Division. His experience includes complex litigation involving significant claimed damages and technical and scientific evidence.

Based in the Los Angeles Resolution Center, Judge Ochoa will serve as a mediator, arbitrator and neutral evaluator, handling business and commercial, construction, employment, governmental and public agency, personal injury, product liability, professional liability and real property disputes. Drawing on decades of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants and presiding over civil matters, he brings a well-rounded perspective on the legal, practical and strategic considerations that shape complex disputes.

“Judge Ochoa brings extensive experience managing complex civil disputes and a well-rounded perspective shaped by his work on both sides of the bar and nearly two decades on the bench. His thoughtful approach and understanding of the legal, practical and strategic considerations at play will help parties and counsel assess difficult issues and work toward resolution.”

Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Ochoa spent more than two decades in legal practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of civil disputes. He began his legal career as a deputy district attorney in Orange County before transitioning to civil practice. Judge Ochoa has also been active in judicial education and leadership, serving as an instructor for California judicial education programs and holding leadership roles within the California Judges Association.

Judge Ochoa's contributions to the legal profession have been recognized with the San Bernardino County Bar Association's Kaufman-Campbell Award and Judge of the Year honors from the American Board of Trial Advocates and Consumer Attorneys of the Inland Empire.

“I’ve spent four decades handling civil disputes on the bench and in private practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and I have extensive experience in complex, expert-intensive litigation as well as matters presenting challenging questions of causation, liability and damages,” said Judge Ochoa. “I look forward to using the skills I’ve developed throughout my career in this new role as a neutral at JAMS.”

Judge Ochoa earned his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and his B.A. from Whittier College.

About JAMS – The Way Forward

JAMS is the premier provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, with more than 500 neutrals across 29 locations. In 2025, JAMS received nearly 22,000 new case filings and handled more than 28,000 matters during the year. Founded in 1979, the organization's distinguished panel includes retired federal and state court judges, former litigators, transactional attorneys and other ADR professionals with deep industry and practice area experience. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services to provide a seamless experience through concierge-level client care, highly skilled case managers and advanced technology.

Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways provides organizations with early conflict resolution, facilitation and training, helping teams prevent disputes before they escalate.

With a legacy of trust and innovation, JAMS helps parties find the way forward so they can focus on what matters most. Learn more at www.jamsadr.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and the JAMS ADR blog.