Hon. Gale P. Hickman, Comm. (Ret.)

T: 310.203.8200
F: 310.203.8211

EDUCATION:

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Juris Doctor, June 1968
University of California Los Angeles, Bachelor of Arts, June 1965
Belmont High School, Los Angeles, June 1960

ADR EXPERIENCE:

(2005-Present) Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation, Arbitration, Settlement Conference, Discovery Reference, Special Master, Private Judging) Appellate Practice, Litigation Consulting Commissioner Gale P. Hickman is a perfect choice to resolve highly contentious, complex disputes.

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE:

(1979-2005) Orange County Superior Court, Superior Court Commissioner
- Family Law, 1999-2005
- Probate Court, 1997-1999
- Family Law, 1994-1997
- Juvenile Court, 1979-1994 (Dependency and Delinquency cases)
(1977-1979) Orange County Superior Court, Juvenile Court Referee Dependency and Delinquency cases

LEGAL EXPERIENCE:

(1975-1977) Orange County Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender
(1974-1975) Pursell, Hickman & Fredrickson, Attorney at Law
(1969-1974) Orange County Public Defender, Deputy Public Defender

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Elder Care, Harassment, Entertainment/Sports, Family Law, Expert Witness, Law & Motion, Business/Commercial, Probate, Trusts/Estate and Appellate.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

CHAPMAN LAW SCHOOL

Adjunct Professor of Law, Community Property, 2006-Present and Evidence, 2009-Present
Lecture, “Domestic Violence, and The Attributes of an Excellent Family Law Lawyer,”
April 2005

CONTINUING EDUCATION OF THE BAR (CEB)

Panelist, “Family Law Practice: Annual Recent Developments,” 1995-2009
Panelist, “Analyzing Transmutation and Separate Property Contribution Issues,”
January 2007
Lecture, “Fundamentals of Handling Marital Dissolutions/Determining Income,” April 2003

STATE BAR ANNUAL MEETING

Seminar, “Recent Developments in Family Law,” Annual Meeting, 2002-2004

CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (CJER)

Film, text, and lectures, “The Role of MinorsK Counsel in Family Law Matters,” “Introducing Statements and Testimony of The Child Witness in Family Law Matters,” “Family Law Evidence,” and “Advanced Family Law Property Issues: Transmutations,” April 2005
Appointed to Family Law Education Committee for three-year term, November 2004
Lecture, “Impact of an Appeal on Family Law Actions,” & “Impact of Bankruptcy on Family Law Actions,” Family Law Institute, March 2003

ORANGE COUNTY FAMILY COURT

Judicial Training, various in-house seminars, tutorials, lectures, 1995-2005

ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, FAMILY LAW SECTION

Presenter, “The Evolution and Devolution of Imputation of Income in California,” October 2009
Co-Presenter, “Raveling and Unraveling of Marital Agreements and Estate Plans,” June 2008
Co-Chair, Education Committee, 2007
Seminar Leader, “The Family Residence, From A to Z,” and screenwriter of “Adventures at Pinkacre,” June 2007
Panelist, “Recent Developments: Brown v Yana, et al,” February 2006
Panelist, “Determining Actual Income in Child and Spousal Support Cases,” October 2005
Panelist, “The Role of MinorsK Counsel in Family Law Matters,” Training Program, September 2005
Lecture, “Adventures in Rebuttal Land,” June 2005
Film, text, and lectures, “Evidence in Action,” May 2005
Panelist, “Child Custody Law After LaMusga,” in association with Attorney’s Briefcase, June 2004
Panelist, “The Role of MinorKs Counsel in Family Law Cases,” April 2004
Panelist, “Advanced Evidence in Spousal Support and Attorney Fee Cases,” March 2004
Seminar, “Moveaway Cases-What Direction?” December 2004
Seminar Presenter and Program Planner, “Spousal Support: The Advanced Course,” April 2003

ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

Presenter, “Bridging the Gap,” for Family Law and Probate semi-annually 1996-2006
Panelist, “Last Dash: Family Law for Non-Family Law Lawyers,” January 2005
Lecture, “Basic Family Law for the Non-Family Law Attorney,” Last Dash Program, January 2004

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MATRIMONIAL LAWYERS

Panelist, “Riddle, Rosen, & Celebrity Goodwill,” July 2005
Seminar, “Date of Separation: Divergent Points of View,” January 2004

ORANGE COUNTY ACCOUNTANTS/ATTORNEYS FORUM

Lecture, “Determining Income and Setting Support Orders in High-EndK Cases,” July 2005

ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALISTS (ACFLS)

Panelist and text, “Obtaining and Presenting Psychological Evidence in Relocation Cases,” April 2005
Lecture, “Imputing Income On Assets,” May 2003

WHITTIER LAW SCHOOL

Judge, “The Tenth Annual National Juvenile Law Moot Court Competition,” February 2005
Judge, “The Ninth Annual National Juvenile Law Moot Court Competition,” Center For ChildrenKs Rights and The Moot Court Honors Board, February 2004
Lecture, “Fault in a No-Fault System,” May 2003

THE PUBLIC LAW CENTER

Presenter, Family Law Basic Training, 2006

KID’S FIRST

Presenter, “Family Law Overview,” February & April 2005

NEWPORT-HARBOR BAR ASSOCIATION

Presenter, “Recent Developments in Family Law,” November 2004

WHITE, ZUCKERMAN, WARSAVSKY, LUNA, WOLF & HUNT, CPAS

Lecture, “Trial Practice Tips: 28 Years of a View from the Bench,” September 2005
Lecture, “Recent Developments: Domestic Partners Legislation,” February 2005
Lecture, “Transmutations of Transmutations,” April 2004

ORANGE COUNTY BANKRUPTCY FORUM

Panelist and Comedy Scenes, “The Tug of War Between Divorce and Bankruptcy,” November 2004

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE

Lecture, “Family Law Overview,” April 2003
Judge, University of California Irvine, Mock Trial Tournament, November 2009

HUGHES & SULLIVAN

Lecture Series, “Evidence and Trial Skills,” October-December 2005

PSYCHO-LEGAL ASSOCIATES

Lecture, “Expert Witness Testimony,” Continuing Education in Psychology and Law, March 2003

PROJECTS:

ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, CHAIR OF STEERING COMMITTEE, “UNIFIED COURTS FOR FAMILIES PROGRAM-MENTOR COURTS”
Developed integrated case model for coordination of domestic violence cases, in Family Law, Juvenile, and Criminal Law courts of Orange County
CHAIR, “ORANGE COUNTY FAMILY LAW LOCAL RULES REVISION COMMITTEE”
Led twelve member team charged with task of repealing and revising existing Local Rules

WRITINGS:

Several screenplays, two of them produced as CBS “Movies of the Week” (“The Penalty Phase,” & “Eighty-Three Hours “Til Dawn”)
For the stage: “Moveaway” 2007
“The Writing and Filming of The Penalty Phase,” UCLA Law Review, August 2001
Numerous Seminar and Lecture documents, most recently, “Hardships: Family Code 4071-4073” and “Documents 101”
“The Impact of an Appeal on Family Law Matters,” “The Impact of a Bankruptcy Filing on Family Law Matters,” and “Transmutations of Transmutations”

HONORS/AWARDS:

“The Gale P. Hickman Award,” by the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section, in recognition of my “. . . commitment to the highest standards of excellence in educating the Family Law Community,” January 2005 (This award will be presented in future years to deserving recipients.)
“The Distinguished Jurist Award 2004,” by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, January 2005
“Judge of the Year,” Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County, 1994
Special Award for Educational Contributions, Orange County Family Law Section, 1996
“The Honorable J.E.T. Rutter Award,” Orange County Family Law Section, 1997
Honorary Judge, First (and only) Annual Orange County Superior Court Family Law Clerks “Miss Potatohead” Competition, June 2000

INTERESTS:

Comm. Gale P. Hickman played 4 years of football and 5 years of rugby at UCLA, and he is a produced screenwriter and a member of the WGA, west.

AVAILABLE:

Throughout Southern California

REFERENCES:

Thomas Garrett
Garrett & Heaton LLP
4041 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 360
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 833-1066

Steven E. Briggs
2700 Newport Boulevard, Suite 172
Newport Beach, California 92663
(949) 673-7410

John S. Clifford
Smith, Chapman & Campbell
1800 North Broadway, Suite 200
Santa Ana, California 92706
(714) 550-7720

Mark Hattam
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory
501 West Broadway, 15th Floor
San Diego, California 92101
(619) 233-1155

Philip Seastrom
Philip G. Seastrom & Associates
4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 1450
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 474-0800

Michael A. Fisher
3 MacArthur Place, Suite 510
Santa Ana, California 92707
(714) 245-1919

Harry Westover
Westover & Westover
901 Dover Drive, Suite 120
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 646-7200

Richard Sullivan
Hughes & Sullivan
660 West First Street
Tustin, California 92780
(714) 538-5200

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