Hon. Robert W. Parkin, Ret.
As Presiding Judge of the nation’s largest trial court, Judge Robert “Bob” Parkin enjoyed a reputation as a savvy administrator with the leadership skills necessary to build consensus among more than 200 independent judges. During his tenure at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, he deftly managed a number of controversial issues, including state trial court funding and superior/municipal court coordination. His colleagues credit his political experience as a two-term Long Beach City Attorney for his patient and painstaking ability to move opposing parties toward agreement.

Judge Parkin served as a Deputy City Attorney assigned to the Harbor Branch office for 12 years, handling oil development and port-related matters including contracts, leases, tariffs, commercial landlord/tenant relations, and intergovernmental relations. He was elected City Attorney in 1978 and served until 1985, when he was appointed to the Superior Court by Gov. Deukmejian. He served as Supervising Judge, Norwalk Judicial District, and Assistant Presiding Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, before being elected as Presiding Judge in 1997, where he served until December 1998.

Often described as an “easy-going,” “no-nonsense” jurist, Judge Parkin brings an ideal combination of trial court experience and settlement skills to ARC.

SPECIALIZES IN:

Business disputes, construction defects, professional negligence, real estate, personal injury, and landlord/tenant matters.

EDUCATION:

  • J.D., Pacific Coast University, Long Beach, CA (1960)
  • B.S., University of California at Berkeley (1954)

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

“Judge of the Year” awards: Southeast Bar Assn., 1992; Long Beach Bar Assn., 1998

MEMBER:

  • California Judges Assn.
  • Judicial Council — Presiding Judges Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee on Ethnic & Racial Bias in the Courts
  • State Trial Courts Budget Commission (chaired Budget Evaluation Subcommittee)
  • St. Mary’s Medical Center Board of Trustees.
  • Former member, Los Angeles County Bar Assn., Long Beach Bar Assn.
  • Former California State Bar Disciplinary Referee, member of Bar’s Review Department.

AVAILABLE:

Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego counties