Hon. John Ouderkirk (Ret.) T: 310.203.8200 F: 310.203.8211

Judge John Ouderkirk has served as a mediator, arbitrator, discovery referee, special master and judge pro tem in a wide range of complex cases. He is well-respected among the civil and family law bars, where he is considered to be an excellent settlement judge and a thorough and efficient discovery referee. Judge Ouderkirk has a reputation for his adept handling of highly sensitive, emotional cases. Judge Ouderkirk has artfully presided over high-profile matters such as the Reginald Denny beating case. He is Known to go the "extra mile" to settle a case.

EDUCATION:

• (1977) Loyola Law School – Dean’s list all four years and recipient of an honorary
  Scholarship for Academic Excellence in 1976

• (1972) California State University, Los Angeles – Graduated with honors

• (1965) Los Angeles Police Academy

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE:

• (2000-2004) Los Angeles Superior Court - Family Law Assignment - Independent calendar in the downtown courthouse, presiding over cases involving almost all aspects of Family Law, including many cases with extraordinarily high assets and income.

• (1997-2000) Los Angeles Superior Court - Central Civil Division - Independent trialcalendar, presiding over unlimited jurisdiction civil cases including medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, real estate, torts, contracts and employment.

• (1992-1997) Los Angeles Superior Court - Central Criminal Division - Long-cause and high security criminal cases including murder, rape, drugs, major fraud and other serious felonies including People v. Damian Williams, et. al, which was known in the press as the "Reginald Denny Beating" case. Voted "Criminal Courts Judge of the Year" in 1994 by the Century City Bar Association.

• (1991-1992) Los Angeles Superior Court - Central Criminal Division - Direct calendar felony criminal trials.

• (1990-1991) Los Angeles Municipal Court - Supervising Judge, Traffic Court - Established a case settlement program that dramatically reduced the number of pending cases.

• (1989-1990) Los Angeles Municipal Court - Misdemeanor trial calendar.
  EDUCATION:

• (1977) Loyola Law School – Dean’s list all four years and recipient of an honorary
  Scholarship for Academic Excellence in 1976

• (1972) California State University, Los Angeles – Graduated with honors

• (1965) Los Angeles Police Academy
  

LEGAL CAREER:

• (1978-1989) Deputy District Attorney - County of Los Angeles - Serving as Assistant Head Deputy in the Major Fraud Division at time of appointment to the bench. Participated in the prosecution of insurance fraud rings, art forgery, music piracy and other complex fraud schemes. Prior to that he served as Supervising Trial Deputy in a felony trial court at the central criminal courts building. Tried more than 30 cases to verdict.

• (1970-1978) Investigator - District Attorney's Office, County of Los Angeles - Conducted investigations in the areas of child support, felony trials and official corruption.

• (1965-1970) Police Officer - City of Santa Monica
  

ADR EXPERIENCE:

(2004-present) Mediator, Arbitrator, Discovery Referee, Special Master, and Judge Pro-Tem. Since retiring from the bench, Judge John Ouderkirk has served as Judge pro-tem by agreement of the parties in several family law cases. Judge John Ouderkirk has often served as a discovery Judge/Referee by agreement of the parties in family and civil matters. In one complex civil matter pending in United States District Court, Judge John Ouderkirk travelled to Milan, Italy and New York City in carrying out his duties as discovery Referee.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Business/Contracts, Employment, Personal Injury, Family Law, Real Estate, Legal and Medical Malpractice.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS:

• (2003) Panelist, Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section - 25th Annual Child
  Custody Colloquium

• (2003) Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association Family Law Section - "The New Age of Discovery"

• (2002) Panelist, Center for Judicial Education and Research - Family Law Institute

• (2001) Panelist, Beverly Hills Bar Association - 27th Annual Family Law Symposium - Complex Spousal Support Issues

• (2001) Speaker, Beverly Hills Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section -"Targeting International Child Abduction"

• (2001) Attendee, CJER/Pepperdine - Straus Institute

• (2001) Member, Superior Court Commissioner Selection Committee

• (2000-2002) Elected Member, Los Angeles Superior Court Executive Committee

• (2000) Attendee, CJER Family Law Institute

• (1998) Speaker, California Judges Association/Rutter Group - "Expert Witnesses"

• (1998) Attendee, CJER Advanced Civil Law Institute

• (1997) Attendee, CJER Basic Civil Law Institute

• (1994, 1997) Attendee, National Judicial College - Seminar on Land Use, CEQA

• (1994-present) Member, Board of Directors - Devil Pups, Inc. (Youth Organization)

• (1992, 1996) Chairperson, Los Angeles Superior Court Probation Committee

• (1991) Attendee, California Judges College - Superior

• (1989) Attendee, California Judges College - Municipal

• (1986-1987) Elected Member, Board of Directors - Association of Deputy District
  Attorneys, Los Angeles County
  

MILITARY SERVICE:

(1961-1967) United States Marine Corps Reserve

AVAILABLE:

Throughout California

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