Hon. James E. Herman is a judge for the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in California. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005. He filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. James Jennings (Ret.).
Herman is a registered Democrat.
Judge Herman received his B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1971. He went on to earn his J.D. from California Western Law School in 1975. He also graduated with his LL.M. from the New York University School of Law in 1976, where he served as a Robert Marshall and Jacob Fuchsberg Fellow.
Herman spent the first seven years of his legal career working as a deputy public defender for the Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Riverside counties.
It would prove to be his only excursion into the public arena, as Herman would spend the next twenty-one years in private practice. He joined the law firm Goux, Romasanta, and Cappello as an associate in 1984 and three years later became a named partner at Rogers, Sheffield, and Herman. He was also a named partner at Reicker, Pfau, Pyle, McRoy, and Herman from 1999 until his appointment to the Superior Court in 2005. During his tenure in private practice, Herman specialized in complex commercial litigation.
During his time on the Superior Court, Judge Herman has served as a Juvenile Presiding Judge, a Civil Supervising Judge and a Presiding Judge of the Court. Some of his assignments have included the criminal trial department, as well as probate, family law, and the Appellate Division. During his time as the Juvenile Presiding Judge, he was instrumental in establishing a drug court to help at-risk parents. He has also been a proponent for the advancement of courtroom technology including electronic court filings as well as making records accessible online.
Judge Herman was appointed by the Hon. Chief Justice Ronald George with the California Supreme Court to serve a three-year term as a voting member of the California Judicial Council in 2010. He was also selected for another three-year term in 2013 by the Hon. Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauy, during which time, Judge Herman served as council liaison to the Kings, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura County Superior Courts. His other Judicial Council duties included serving as chair of the Council's Technology Planning Task Force.
Some of his other judicial committees have included the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, the California Commission on Access to Justice, the Court Case Management System General Administrative Advisory Committee, the Civil and Small Claims Advisory Committee, the Public Access to Judicial Administrative Records Working Group, as well as various other working groups and subcommittees.
Herman has served as a board member for the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Foundation of the State Bar, and the California Rural Legal Assistance and Santa Barbara Legal Aid Foundation. He also served as a member of the State Bar Board of Governors and was the past-president for the Central Coast Chapter of the Federal Bar Association as well as for the State Bar of California.
Some of his awards have included the Light of Hope Award from the Court Appointed Special Advocates in 2011, the Bernard E. Witkin Distinguished Service Amicus Curiae Award from the Judicial Council in 2004, and the Diversity in the Profession Award from the State Bar of California, just to name a few.
Judge Herman hails from Kansas City, Missouri. He came to California by way of the U.S. Air Force. During his time in the service, Herman studied Chinese at the Defense Department's Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Because of his fluency in Mandarin Chinese, Judge Herman served as a delegation leader during professional exchange visits to the People's Republic of China and has also provided pro bono legal assistance for Chinese-speaking clients.
On a personal note, Judge Herman's wife, the Hon. Denise de Bellefeuille (Ret.), also served as a judge for the Santa Barbara County Superior Court for sixteen years before retiring in 2014.
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT VS SLIPPERY ROCK RANCH
Oct 16, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Reopen Expert Discovery
...THE SANTA BARBARA SMOKEHOUSE INC VS AGRO AMERICA LLC
Mar 10, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Leave to Intervene
...WILLIAM WOODMAN VS GREGORY C GREANEY, MD ET AL
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer to Second Amended Complaint; Case Management Conference/OSC Re Trial Setting
...Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Protective Order
TENTATIVE RULING:
For the reasons set forth herein, the motion of defendant Jared Cholewa for a protective order and for sanctions is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted to excuse Cholewa from responding to plaintiffs’ sp...
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Protective Order
...WILLIAM WOODMAN VS GREGORY C GREANEY, MD ET AL
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer to Second Amended Complaint; Case Management Conference/OSC Re Trial Setting
TENTATIVE RULING:
For the reasons set forth herein, the demurrer of defendant Olympus Surgical Technologies America to plaintiff’s second amended complaint is overruled. Defendant Ol...
DANIEL GARCIA VS IOVATE HEALTH SCIENCES USA INC
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Case Management Conference; Motion: Preliminary Approval of Settlement
TENTATIVE RULING:
As set forth herein, the court preliminarily approves the class action settlement in accordance with the terms of the revised proposed order lodged with the court on January 24, 2...
DANIEL GARCIA VS IOVATE HEALTH SCIENCES USA INC
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Case Management Conference; Motion: Preliminary Approval of Settlement
...BRIDGEPOINT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC VS VISTA OCEANO LA MESA VENTURE LLC
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Disqualify Counsel
...BRIDGEPOINT CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC VS VISTA OCEANO LA MESA VENTURE LLC
Feb 15, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Disqualify Counsel
On the Court's own motion the Case Management Conference set for February 15, 2017, at 8:30 is continued to March 22, 2017, at 9:30 am and the Motion to Disqalify Counsel on calendar for February 15, 2017, at 9:30 am is continued to March 22, 2017, ...
THOMAS SCHULTHEIS ET AL VS OCWEN LOAN SERVICING LLC ET AL
Feb 08, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer to Third Amended Complaint
...THOMAS SCHULTHEIS ET AL VS OCWEN LOAN SERVICING LLC ET AL
Feb 08, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer to Third Amended Complaint
TENTATIVE RULING: Defendants’ demurrer to the TAC is sustained without leave to amend. Judgment is ordered entered in favor of defendants and against plaintiffs.
BACKGROUND:
On January 30, 2006, plaintiffs Thomas Schultheis ...
ANDREW MARTIN VS NATIONAL FAMILY SOLUTIONS, LLC
Feb 08, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Set Aside Default Judgment
...ANDREW MARTIN VS NATIONAL FAMILY SOLUTIONS, LLC
Feb 08, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Set Aside Default Judgment
TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is granted, and the judgment entered in this matter is vacated. Defendant NFS shall be permitted to file its appeal.
BACKGROUND: Plaintiff Andrew Martin filed an action against defendant National Family S...
DAVID GERRITY VS CRUSADER INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer and Motion to Strike; (9) Motions to Compel
TENTATIVE RULING:
(1) For the reasons set forth herein, the demurrer of defendants to plaintiff’s third amended complaint is overruled.
(2) For the reasons set forth herein, the motion of defendants to strik...
GARY PAUDLER VS AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK INC ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: (2) Motions for Summary Judgment/Adjudication
TENTATIVE RULING: Defendant Bank of America, N.A.’s motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication is denied. Defendant M&T Bank’s motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication is denied.
BACKGROUND:
On...
BAGDASARIAN INSURANCE GROUP ET AL VS E&J GALLO WINERY
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Consolidation
...GARY PAUDLER VS AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK INC ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: (2) Motions for Summary Judgment/Adjudication
...PACIFIC MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY VS THE BAGDASARIAN INSURANCE GROUP INC
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Order Severing the Cross-Complaint
...PACIFIC MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY VS THE BAGDASARIAN INSURANCE GROUP INC
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Order Severing the Cross-Complaint
Tentative Ruling: The court denies Bagdasarian Insurance Group and Christopher Bagdasarian’s motion to consolidate Case Nos. 15CV03781 and 16CV03203.
The court grants Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company’s motion to sever tr...
DAVID GERRITY VS CRUSADER INSURANCE COMPANY ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer and Motion to Strike; (9) Motions to Compel
...MARIANNE CHAPMAN VS CALEB OVERTON ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Consolidation/Relate Actions
...MARIANNE CHAPMAN VS CALEB OVERTON ET AL
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Consolidation/Relate Actions
Tentative Ruling: The court denies defendants Caleb Overton and Biltmore Wealth Management, LLC’s motion to consolidate Case Nos. 16CV02568 and 16CV03749.
Background:
1. Chapman Complaint: On June 16, 2016, plaintiff Marian...
BAGDASARIAN INSURANCE GROUP ET AL VS E&J GALLO WINERY
Feb 01, 2017 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion: Consolidation
Tentative Ruling: The court denies Bagdasarian Insurance Group and Christopher Bagdasarian’s motion to consolidate Case Nos. 15CV03781 and 16CV03203.
The court grants Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company’s motion to sever trial of its complaint...
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