Judge Martha K. Gooding: Comprehensive Profile - Analytics, Rulings, and Recent Cases

CA Bar #: 101638 (December 1981)

Appointed By: Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Biography

The Hon. Martha K. Gooding is a judge for the Superior Court of Orange County in California. She was appointed by former governor Jerry Brown on December 5, 2013, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of Associate Justice David A. Thompson.


Gooding earned a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach in 1978. She then received a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981.


Gooding began her legal career as an associate at Howard Rice et al. in 1983. Six years later, she became a partner at Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk and Rabkin, a firm specializing in business litigation, securities litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. Then, in 2000, she joined Howrey as a partner, a position she held for the next eleven years. After briefly working as an attorney in her own private practice, Gooding joined Jones Day as a partner, where she handled intellectual property cases involving trade secret misappropriation disputes and patent infringements.


Gooding was awarded the Anti-Defamation League Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award in 2009.


She is a former President of the Federal Bar Association of Orange County and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Orange County. She is a former co-chair of the Federal Practice Task Force of the ABA Litigation Section. She is also a former member of the ABA House of Delegates.


Gooding was a resident of Newport Beach, California at the time of her appointment to the bench.


She is registered as a Democrat.

Recent Rulings by Hon. Martha K. Gooding

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Complaint – OFF CALENDAR 2) Motion to Strike Portions of Complaint – OFF CALENDAR 3) Case Management Conference – CONTINUED Demurrer and Motion WITHDRAWN by Moving Party Case Management Conference CONTINUED to 12/02/2021 at 9:00 AM

    ...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Complaint 2) Motion to Strike Portions of Complaint 3) Motion to Quash Service of Summons 4) Motion to Quash Service of Summons 5) Motion to Quash Service of Summons NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMB...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion to Compel Answers to Form Interrogatories 2) Motion to Compel Answers to Special Interrogatories 3) Motion to Compel Production 4) Motion to Deem facts Admitted 5) Case Management Conference NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    Motion for Attorney Fees NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AT 1:30 P.M. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVER TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY 12:00 PM ON 11/16/2021.

    ...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion for Summary Judgment and/or Adjudication 2) Motion for Summary Judgment and/or Adjudication NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AT 1:30 P.M. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVER TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY ...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Compel Deposition (Oral or Written) OFF CALENDAR – Withdrawn by Moving Party

    ...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    Motion for Attorney Fees NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AT 1:30 P.M. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVER TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY 12:00 PM ON 11/16/2021.

    ...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion to Compel Answers to Form Interrogatories 2) Motion to Compel Answers to Special Interrogatories 3) Motion to Compel Production NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AT 1:30 P.M. THE COURT WILL END...

  • Nov 15, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion to Vacate 2) Case Management Conference NO TENTATIVE RULING IS AVAILABLE. DUE TO A CONFLICT IN THE COURT’S SCHEDULE, THE HEARING ON THIS MATTER IS CONTINUED TO NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AT 1:30 P.M. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVER TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY 12:00 PM ON 11/16/2021.

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Cross-Complaint – OFF CALENDAR
    2) Case Management Conference
    3) Status Conference re: service as to Cross-Defendant Joshua Ertz
    DEMURRER OFF CALENDAR – First Amended Cross-Complaint filed 8/27/2021

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Strike Complaint
    NO TENTATIVE RULING YET AVAILABLE. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVOR TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY NOON ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING.

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Amended Complaint
    2) Motion for Leave to File Under Seal
    3) Case Management Conference
    CONTINUED at parties’ request to 12/13/21

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Proceed in Fictitious Name and to Seal Certificates of Merit
    NO TENTATIVE RULING YET AVAILABLE. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVOR TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY NOON ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING.

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint
    Plaintiff Brian Williams’ motion for leave to file a First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) is granted.
    Plaintiff shall file and serve his FAC, in the form submitted with his Motion, no later than September 17, 2021 pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure.
    The c...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion to Lift Stay and Set Trial Date
    2) Case Management Conference
    3) Status Conference
    The unopposed Motion by Plaintiffs Violette Mathis, Violette Mathis as Trustee of the Survivor’s Trust under the Mathis Revocable Trust and CVM Corporation to lift the arbitration stay and set a trial date...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Set Aside/Vacate
    Defendant Douglas Turner’s Motion to set aside the default entered against him on 3/16/21 is denied without prejudice.
    Section 473(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) permits a court to grant relief from a judgment, dismissal, order or other proceeding taken against a...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Demurrer to Cross-Complaint
    NO TENTATIVE RULING YET AVAILABLE. THE COURT WILL ENDEAVOR TO POST A TENTATIVE RULING BY NOON ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING.

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Cross-Complaint – CONTINUED
    2) Status Conference – CONTINUED
    Continued to 10/18/21 at 1:30 p.m. on the Court’s own motion

    ...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion for Leave to Amend – GRANTED
    2) Case Management Conference – parties to appear
    3) Order to Show Cause re: Sanctions against Brian K. Katoozi from Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP for failure to attend 6/14/21 CMC – parties to appear
    4) Order to Show Cause re: Sanctions against Howard M....

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Motion to Compel Answers to Special Interrogatories
    2) Motion to Compel Production
    The Motions by Plaintiff Bianca Simon (“Plaintiff”) to compel Defendant Mercedes Benz USA, LLC (“Defendant”) to provide responses to her supplemental document demands and supplemental interrogatories are granted.

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Compel Production
    The Court grants Plaintiff Ruzhen He’s unopposed Motion to compel further responses to Request for Production of Tangible Things for Inspection, Set Three, Nos. 55 and 56 as and to the extent set forth below.
    Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) Section 2031.220 requires a part...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    1) Demurrer to Answer
    2) Case Management Conference – parties to appear
    The Demurrer by Defendant/Cross-Complainant Park Aliso Commercial Center, Ltd. (“Cross-Complainant”) to the Answer to the Cross-Complaint filed by Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant Fitness International, LLC (“Cross-Defendant”), is susta...

  • Sep 13, 2021 Orange County

    Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Dismissal – GRANTED
    Plaintiffs Wayne Pulcini and Frank Pestarino (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) move the Court for an order setting aside the Court’s December 14, 2020 order dismissing this action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) Section 583.420(a)(1) for Plaintiffs’ ...

  • Sep 09, 2021 Orange County

    Status Conference

    ...

  • Load More

Recent Cases by Hon. Martha K. Gooding

On February 3, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

1 File
Filed

Feb 03, 2026

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Superior

County

Orange County, CA

Case Last Refreshed

Feb 05, 2026

On January 28, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jan 28, 2026

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Superior

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Automobile

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 29, 2026

On January 15, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jan 15, 2026

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 17, 2026

On January 9, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jan 09, 2026

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jan 11, 2026

On December 23, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Dec 23, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 25, 2025

On December 15, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Dec 15, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 16, 2025

On November 12, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Nov 12, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Nov 14, 2025

On October 17, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Oct 17, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 18, 2025

On October 6, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Oct 06, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 07, 2025

On September 25, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Sep 25, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Property

Matter Type

General Property

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 26, 2025

On September 2, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Sep 02, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Torts

Matter Type

Automobile

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 03, 2025

On August 11, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Aug 11, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 13, 2025

On July 14, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 14, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Creditor

Matter Type

Collections

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 16, 2025

On July 14, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 14, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 16, 2025

On July 14, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 14, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 16, 2025

On June 30, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 30, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jul 02, 2025

On June 27, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 27, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 29, 2025

On June 25, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 25, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 27, 2025

On June 25, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 25, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 27, 2025

On June 16, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 16, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 18, 2025

On June 11, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jun 11, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

Jun 13, 2025

On May 23, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

May 23, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 11, 2025

On May 22, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

May 22, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

Wrongful Termination

Case Last Refreshed

May 24, 2025

On May 21, 2025 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

May 21, 2025

Judge

Hon. Martha K. Gooding Trellis Spinner 👉 Discover key insights by exploring more analytics for Martha K. Gooding

Court

Orange County

County

Orange County, CA

Practice Area

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Dec 11, 2025