The Honorable Luis A. Rodriguez
The Honorable Luis A. Rodriguez brought to his Civil courtroom a set of unique and extraordinary trial management skills which earned him the reputation of being the judge who is attuned to what the attorneys before him are advocating. He developed a reputation for being fair, flexible and patient as well as focused, effective and efficient whether in law and motion, trial or settlement. He has taken his 34 year legal and judicial career punctuated by over 20 years of experience as trial judge on the Orange County Superior Court. Within a very short period his unique abilities were recognized, having been honored by the Orange County Bar Association Business Litigation Section for 2011, Judge of the Year.
After retiring in 2014 he passionately converted to a part time mediation and arbitration practice. Rodriguez has arbitrated cases to award in employment such as areas of wage & hourly and FEHA claims. In real-estate he has rendered awards in business disputes as well as insurance disputes. With over a 100 mediation cases, he has achieved a substantial close ratio.
Since leaving the bench in 2014 he has continued to build his skills in mediation. He has to date participated in numerous conferences and training programs. He most recently attended the American Bar Association institute for mediation. The conference featured various skill building and technique development for conducting successful mediations. A significant percentage of his practice has been as an arbitrator.
Rodriguez has continued to hone his arbitration skills by attending multiple institutes focusing on training and building arbitration skills.Engagements for mediation and arbitration can be booked directly though ADR services. Contact Megan Nomura Case Manager.
Complex Legal Issues
He is renowned for being a judge who embraces complex legal issues. One article on him said “Not many judges can examine an expert witness, off the cuff, about covalent ions. Orange County Superior Court Judge Luis A. Rodriguez can and did.”
This is the inquisitive mind that distinguishes Judge Rodriguez. He seeks to understand and engage while at the same time keeping focus on the goal to resolve the legal issues.
He has continued this in his mediation practice successfully meshing his substantial legal experience with his passion for problem solving. Using this approach Judge Rodriguez has amassed a successful settlement record.
Law & Science
Judge Rodriguez’s thirst for knowledge has been a hallmark of his professional life. He initially majored in Biology at the University of California at San Diego. In his judicial career he used this science background to engage in projects that sought to integrate science in the law. For example, He participated in the Science and Law committee of the courts. In that capacity he participated in a education program partnering with distinguished legal scholars creating an innovative program discussing pros and cons of using Neuroscience Evidence in the Courtroom, entitled the “The Brain on Trial presented at science and neuroscience conferences. Brain on Trial” is accessible through the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-brain-on-trial/3038790
This is an addition to originating while on the numerous CJER education programs dealing with subjects in Civil, and Criminal law. Since retiring Judge Rodriguez has continued developing programs for attorneys MCLE accredited discussing the admissibility of scientific evidence in the court room; and judges role in dealing with attorney substance abuse presented at the 2015, and 2016 state bar conferences.
Business-Minded Solutions
Apart from his extensive interest and experience in the scientific method, Judge Rodriguez has also developed significant expertise in resolving commercial litigation issues with business-minded solutions. Judge Rodriguez founded using his science background founded a creative and innovative company in his native Costa Rica which sourced unique health and wellness products from American and Euroupean Manufactures. This company was sold in 2015 with this entrepreneural venture he brings added value to his practice a “real world view” adding value to his successful career in public law and on the bench which employs in mediating complicated business disputes.
Judge Rodriguez has been appointed as arbitrator and discovery referee by the Orange County and Los Angeles Superior Courts. (CCP §638 & 639).
Legal Experience
| 1998- 2 | Judge, Orange County Superior Court General Civil Trials, Criminal, and Juvenil. Served on North County Municipal Court before Unification (1994 – 1998) |
| 1989 – 1994 | Senior Assistant City Attorney, City of Orange |
| 1983 – 1989 | Deputy City Attorney, City of Santa Ana |
| 1980 – 1983 | Private Civil Practice |
Key Education & Experience
| May 2020 | Attended first annual virtual spring dispute resolution conference. |
| Keeping with COVID | – Attended numerous webinars dealing with protocols for current pandemic (OC Bar, American Bar, CA Lawyers) – Including training on how to conduct a virtual mediation (present) |
| Speaking | Program on Substance Abuse (satisfy competency credits) “Judge’s Role” Attorney Substance Abuse under RPC 3.110 -Also Hispanic Bar Association |
| 2017 – 2019 | Presented @ various state bar associations |
| 2016 | USC-JAMS Arbitration Institute Advanced Arbitration Academy |
| 2004 | Straus Institute – Pepperdine School of Law, Mediation: The art of Facilitating Settlement |
| 1980 | University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, J.D. |
| 1977 | University of California at San Diego, B.A. |
Awards
| 2011 | Judge of the Year, Orange County Bar Association Business Litigation Section |
| 2004 | Award & Appreciation, South Orange County Bar Association |
| 1998 | Ambassador of Peace Award, Orange County Violence Prevention Coalition |