Hon. James M. Slater (Ret.)

T: 310.203.8200
F: 310.203.8211

Following 20 years of continuous service on the bench in Santa Barbara County, Judge Slater retired from the Superior Court in 1997. During his judicial career he presided over civil jury and court trials, settlement conferences, civil law and motion, family court, probate court and criminal proceedings. Judge Slater is affiliated with the American Arbitration Association and First Resolution Services, Inc. The civil assignments predominated his calendar and covered virtually all areas of law.

As a mediator, Judge Slater is well respected within the legal community for being insightful, innovative and consistently objective. He is known for his ability to persuade parties to continue talking and working toward settlement. As an arbitrator, Judge Slater is recognized for his dedication to reaching a just decision and for being unremittingly fair, kind and responsive to each party's needs. In both arbitrations and mediations, he is valued for his keen insight into issues and his ability to evaluate evidence.

EDUCATION:

(1964) J.D., University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana
(1961) B.A., History, Iona College, New Rochelle, New York

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE:

(1982-1997) Judge, Superior Court, County of Santa Barbara
(1977-1982) Judge, Municipal Court, County of Santa Barbara
(1973-1977) Third District Supervisor, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors

LEGAL CAREER:

(1966-1977) Attorney, Private Practice
(1965-1966) Deputy District Attorney, County of Santa Barbara

ADR EXPERIENCE:

(1997-Present) Private Arbitrator, Mediator, and Special Master/Referee

ADR TRAINING:

(2007) American Arbitration Association (AAA)-Construction Mediation Conference, “What You Can’t Not Know”
(2006) AAA-Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards
(2006 & 1998) Rutter Group-Employment Litigation Seminars
(2005) AAA-Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics
(2004) AAA-Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure
(2002) AAA-Commercial Arbitrator I and Arbitrator II Training
(2002) AAA-Annual Update Training
(2001) California Judges Education & Research Institute (CJER)/California Judges Association (CJA), Civil Law/Mediation Seminar
(2000) Pepperdine University, Master’s Forum
(1999) Golightly Seminars, Advanced Mediation Training
(1998) Pepperdine University, Advanced Mediation Training
(1992) CJER/CJA, Mediation Training
(1990) CJER/CJA, Judges College

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Business and partnership disputes/dissolutions, employment (wrongful termination, wages and hour, gender/race-based bias or harassment), real property (failure to disclose defects, contract disputes, structural defects), contracts, insurance, complex commercial litigation, and personal injury litigation.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS:

State Bar of California
California Judges Association
California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
Association for Conflict Resolution

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES:

Admitted to the Bar, California, 1965

INTERESTS:

Sailing, Fly Fishing, and Travel

AVAILABLE:

Available Statewide (California) & Western United States.

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