JUDGE VERNON F. SMITH (Ret.)

ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALITIES

Judge Vernon Smith retired from the Marin County Superior Court in 2007 after twenty-five years of judicial service. He served as trial Judge in hundreds of cases and is recognized as a very effective settlement judge. Judge Smith brings intelligence, imagination, and diligence to his settlement approach. His broad experience includes the areas of medical and legal malpractice, real estate, construction, complex probate matters, personal injury, wrongful termination claims, complex multiparty cases, insurance coverage, business litigation, employment, family law, and product liability. Judge Smith is known and respected by both plaintiff and defense bars. His warm personality and ability to “listen” allow him to recognize any underlying issue, which may hinder the settlement process.

ON THE BENCH

Judge Smith served in every assignment of the courts of Marin and has served as the Supervising Judge of the Civil, Probate, Juvenile, Family Law and Criminal divisions. He was the first Presiding Judge of the consolidated Marin Superior Court, and served several terms on the Appellate Department and as the appointed CEQA Judge for Marin.

LAW PRACTICE & ADR TRAINING

Judge Smith served as a Marin Deputy District Attorney and later as his law firm’s trial attorney, including the handling of real estate disputes, probate matters, construction and employment cases, as well as personal injury cases as counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants. He served as an Assistant City Attorney for Novato and Petaluma and has taught legal courses at both College of Marin and Dominican College. Judge Smith has attended the complete set of lectures on Mediation presented by the California Center for Judicial Education and Research as well as completing the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution course on Advanced Mediation at Pepperdine University School of Law during 2005.

EDUCATION & MEMBERSHIPS

B.A. and J.D.: University of San Francisco California Bar- 1968 U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Ninth Circuit and District Court; Member of the Board of Directors, and Secretary, Marin County Bar Assoc.; California Judges Assoc.