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

CA Bar #: 101638 (December 1981)

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

Biography

Overview

The Hon. Martha K. Gooding is an associate justice for the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three[1]. Gooding was nominated to that court by Governor Gavin Newsom on May 19, 2023, and the Commission on Judicial Appointments confirmed the nomination on September 26, 2023[1].

Since joining the Court of Appeal, Gooding has heard appeals arising from Orange County[1]. Before that elevation, she served on the Orange County Superior Court from December 2013 to September 2023[1]. Former Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to that court on December 5, 2013, filling the vacancy created by the elevation of Associate Justice David A. Thompson[2]. Her assignments there included the limited criminal panel at the West Justice Center, the civil panel at the Central Justice Center, and the court's appellate panel[1]. Gooding also served on the court's Executive, Finance, Grand Jury Selection, and Judicial Mentor committees[1].

Educational background

Gooding earned a B.A. from California State University, Long Beach, in 1978, graduating Phi Beta Kappa[1]. At the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, she completed a J.D. in 1981[1]. She graduated first in her class and was elected to the Order of the Coif[1]. She was admitted to the State Bar of California (December 1981).

Career history

After graduating from law school, Gooding served as a law clerk for Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia[1]. In 1983, she joined Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk & Rabkin in San Francisco as an associate[1]. Six years later, she became a partner there[1]. In 1992, she moved to Orange County to help establish the firm's Southern California office[1]. Her work at the firm included business litigation, securities litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution matters. Gooding next joined Howrey LLP as a partner in 2000[1]. She remained there until 2011. After a brief period in private practice, she became a partner at Jones Day's Irvine office, where her practice focused on intellectual property matters, including trade secret misappropriation disputes and patent infringement cases[1]. She remained at Jones Day until joining the bench[1].

In 2009, Gooding received the Anti-Defamation League Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award[3]. Her professional leadership included service as president of the Orange County Federal Bar Association and the Orange County Association of Business Trial Lawyers, co-chair of the Federal Practice Task Force of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation, and a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates[3]. The judges of the United States District Court for the Central District of California selected her as a lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and as a member of the court's Magistrate Judges Merit Selection Panel[3]. She also served as a board member of the California Bar Foundation and on the Central District's Pro Bono Panel[3].

Personal life

Outside the courtroom, Gooding and her husband, Bob, had lived in Newport Beach for eleven years as of December 2013[4]. In community service, she spent more than a decade in the Newport Harbor High School mentor program[3]. Gooding also mentored through the University of California, Irvine School of Law, and the Orange County Superior Court Judicial Externship Program[3]. She volunteered as a judge for the University of California, Irvine School of Law moot court competition and the Constitutional Rights Foundation mock trial competition[3].

Gooding is registered as a Democrat.

References

[1] California Courts — Biography of Justice Martha K. Gooding
[2] Governor of California Press Release (December 5, 2013)
[3] Orange County Bar Association — News and Announcements
[4] Los Angeles Times — Daily Pilot (December 6, 2013)

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 October 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Oct 22, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 23, 2026

On October 19, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Oct 19, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 21, 2026

On October 5, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Oct 05, 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

Property

Matter Type

General Property

Case Last Refreshed

Oct 07, 2026

On September 8, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Sep 08, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 09, 2026

On September 2, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Sep 02, 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

Sep 04, 2026

On September 2, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Sep 02, 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

Economic Torts

Case Last Refreshed

Sep 03, 2026

On August 26, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Aug 26, 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

Labor and Employment

Matter Type

General Employment

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 28, 2026

On August 17, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Aug 17, 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

Administrative

Matter Type

Writs

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 19, 2026

On August 13, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Aug 13, 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

Creditor

Matter Type

Judgment Enforcement

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 14, 2026

On July 23, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 23, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 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

Aug 01, 2026

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 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

Aug 01, 2026

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

On July 22, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 22, 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

Aug 01, 2026

On July 21, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 21, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Contractual Fraud

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

On July 21, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 21, 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

Aug 01, 2026

On July 20, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 20, 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

Aug 01, 2026

On July 20, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 20, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 01, 2026

On July 20, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 20, 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

Aug 01, 2026

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

Filed

Jul 15, 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

Aug 02, 2026

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

Filed

Jul 15, 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

Creditor

Matter Type

Collections

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 02, 2026

On July 14, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 14, 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

Aug 02, 2026

On July 14, 2026 a case was filed in the jurisdiction of Orange County. Judge Martha K. Gooding presiding.

Filed

Jul 14, 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

Commercial

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Case Last Refreshed

Aug 02, 2026