Attorney Profiles

ARTURO GUTIERREZ

Judge Gutierrez (retired) graduated in 1975 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.  He was a felony trial lawyer with the Public Defenders Office where he tried everything from DUI to murder cases.  In 1981 he was appointed as a Municipal Court Judge.  Only six months later, the Trial Lawyers Association voted him Trial Judge of the Year.  He handled over 25,000 DUI cases.  He was again voted Trial Judge of the Year in 1987.  In 1987 he was the presiding judge.  In 1998 he became a Superior Court Judge where he handled cases from DUI to murder, along with million dollar civil cases.  He was again voted Trial Judge of the Year in 2007 for his outstanding performance on the bench.  He was a law school professor for 17 years teaching evidence and ethics.  He has been a guest speaker on numerous occasions. Most recently at the California DUI Attorneys Association where he taught attorneys tips on how to win a DUI jury trial.  In his career he has handled well over tens of thousands of criminal cases (enough to fill a football stadium). He retired from the bench on April 13, 2008 to practice law with his son.

HERBERT CURTIS III

RETIRED JUDGE, SUPERIOR COURT,

Appointment/Election:
Succeeded to court upon unanimous written consent of judges in county [pursuant to Prop. 220] to convert Municipal Courts to Superior Courts, effective June 10, 1998.

Other Judicial Office:
Judge, Municipal Court, appointed [succeeding Judge Robert C. Bradley, elevated] by Governor Deukmejian Oct. 23, 1984 (oath Oct. 31, 1984), elected in 1986 (unopposed), and reelected in 1992 (unopposed). Presiding Judge, 1991.

Past Employment:
Deputy District Attorney, 1976-84 (also worked in District Attorney's office, 1975-76); Public School Teacher (English, Social Studies, and Science), Cleveland Heights, Cleveland, 1969-75 (taught grades 7 through 9).

Memberships/Awards:
Member: Calif. Judges Assn., 1984-; 1978-; NAACP, 1977- (Legal Advisor, 1977-80). Member, Judicial Council's Advisory Committee on Presiding Judges' Terms and Expertise, 1991-92. Former member: Calif. District Attorneys' Assn., 1978-84; 1980-84 (Board of Directors, 1981-84); and Boys & Girls Club, 1982-88 (Board of Directors, 1982-88). Calif.
State Bar Court Referee, 1978-84.

Education:
J.D. (June 1975), Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio; B.A. (June 1969, Political Science), Cleveland State Univ., Cleveland
(recipient of track scholarship); Graduate: John Adams High School (1965) and Audubon Junior High School (1962), both in Cleveland.

Personal:
Born Oct. 17, 1947; Cleveland, Ohio; Divorced. Two children. Interests: Enjoys swimming, cross-country skiing, jogging, and playing the
piano.

Admission:
Admitted to Calif. Bar June 25, 1976 and to U.S. Dist. Court, Central Dist. of Calif., in June 1976.

Political Affiliation/Religion:
Democrat; Past Member of First United Methodist Church Administrative Board, 1981- (Chair, 1981-84; Chair, church's Board of Trustees, 1981-83).

ARTURO GUTIERREZ III

Former Special prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Office

I handled thousands of misdemeanors, hundreds of DUI’s, and dozens of trials, preliminary hearings, and motions to suppress evidence.

As a prosecutor my focus and training was DUI’s.  Learning in depth from the Crime Laboratory as to their internal procedures, needs, and shortcomings.  I have observed Police conduct and investigation procedures through both ride-alongs and DUI check points.

In one case, I discovered racism in the Oxnard Police Department by one of its officers, this led to an internal affairs investigation and the dismissal of the charges.  Even after the defendant plead guilty!  As a prosecutor I was not afraid to stand up to Police wrongdoing.

Former Insurance Defense Attorney

I learned the ins and outs of how insurance companies operate and think.  I handled hundreds of cases, settlements, depositions and trials.

Worker’s Compensation Attorney

After learning how insurance companies work, I put this knowledge to use representing injured workers against insurance companies.  I obtained numerous $100,000+ settlements for my clients.

I ran the Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties branch of a state wide Worker’s Compensation applicant’s attorney law firm.  I managed hundreds of clients and handled hundreds of settlements, depositions, and trials on behalf of injured workers.

Criminal Defense Attorney

As a criminal defense attorney I have obtained dismissals of charges and reduced jail sentences to fine only offenses.

I believe in aggressive effective representation.  I am using my inside knowledge that I gained as a prosecutor to fight the government.  I use their weaknesses to beat them at their own game.

College of Law Graduate 2004 Honor Student