Hon. John W. Ouderkirk, Ret.
Judge John Ouderkirk has served as a mediator, arbitrator, discovery referee, special master and judge pro tem in a wide range of complex cases, including family law and probate; fee disputes; professional malpractice; real estate; personal injury; business/contract; and employment cases. Since 2004, Judge Ouderkirk has served as a discovery referee for the U.S. District Court in a complex, multi-party trademark case and has presided over depositions in the U.S. and Italy.

Judge Ouderkirk sat on the Los Angeles Superior Court bench from 1991-2004, where he resolved all aspects of Family Law cases for the last four years of his tenure. From 1997-2000, he handled unlimited jurisdiction cases in the Central Civil Division. Known in the criminal courts for presiding over the “Reginald Denny beating case,” Judge Ouderkirk has a reputation for his adept handling of highly sensitive, emotional cases and is well-liked by both sides of the bar.

Prior to his appointment to the court, Judge Ouderkirk was a Deputy District Attorney for the County of Los Angeles, where he prosecuted insurance fraud, art forgery, and music piracy. He served as an investigator for the District Attorney’s office from 1970-78 and was a Santa Monica police officer from 1965-70.

SPECIALIZES IN:

Business/Contracts, Employment, Family Law, Insurance Coverage Personal Injury, Legal and Medical Malpractice, Real Estate

MEMBERSHIPS AND ORGANIZATIONS:

  • Member: Family Law Section, Beverly Hills Bar Assoc.; Los Angeles County Bar Assoc.; Riverside County Bar Assoc.; Desert Bar Assoc.
  • Attendee: CJER/Pepperdine - Straus Mediation Institute; CFLR Family Law update
  • Frequent speaker and panelist on family law issues for bar associations and other organizations

EDUCATION:

  • 1977, Loyola Law School
  • 1972, California State University, Los Angeles; graduated with honors

AVAILABLE:

Southern California.