RESUME

Mediator  •  Arbitrator

HON. GEORGE C. HERNANDEZ (RET.)

Hon. George Hernandez (Ret.)

Former Presiding Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court, Hon. George C. Hernandez (Ret.), has been serving the East Bay legal community for over 40 years. He started his career working with low-income clients in Union City as a community-based lawyer in 1979. After a short time in general practice, he was elected Court Commissioner in 1985 by the judges of the Fremont Newark Union City Municipal Court. In 1989, Judge Hernandez was appointed Judge of the Fremont Newark Union City Municipal Court, where he handled criminal cases until his elevation to the Alameda County Superior Court in 1996.

After his elevation to the Superior Court, Judge Hernandez served in every civil assignment, including four years in the Complex Litigation Department. Judge Hernandez presided over more than one hundred civil jury trials. Additionally, Judge Hernandez served as the Civil Master Calendar judge, presided over the Civil Law and Motion department, sat on the court’s Appellate Division, and completed countless bench trials throughout the duration of his time on the Alameda Superior Court.

Judge Hernandez was assigned by the Chair of the Judicial Council as the coordinating trial judge to preside over many Judicial Council Coordination Proceedings (JCCP) involving cases filed throughout the State. His court leadership positions include terms as Presiding Judge (2006 and 2007), Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division, Presiding Judge of the Fremont Newark Union City Municipal Court, Supervising Judge of the Pleasanton Court, Supervising Judge of the Hayward Court, and Chair of the Superior Court Judges Civil Committee.

Since becoming a full-time mediator and arbitrator in 2018, Judge Hernandez has successfully mediated and arbitrated hundreds of cases with a focus on the areas of Employment, Business, Real Estate, Homeowners Associations, Professional Malpractice, Elder Abuse, Consumer and Employee Class Actions and Catastrophic Personal Injury.

Judge Hernandez’ philosophy about mediations is that each matter is unique and important to the litigants and that the parties are entitled to an honest evaluation of their lawsuit. He encourages the parties to openly communicate their concerns. After 32 years of experience as a judge, and many years as a mediator and arbitrator, Judge Hernandez evaluates each case with an eye towards the probable trial result. He provides a realistic judicial assessment of the merits of each case.

As an arbitrator, Judge Hernandez encourages efficiency and focus. He strictly applies the law and refrains from making unsupportable compromise decisions. All parties deserve nothing less.


AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Class Action
  • Real Estate
  • Employment
  • Product Liability
  • Toxic Tort
  • Personal Injury


HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Distinguished Service Award for Judicial Officer, Alameda County Bar Association, 2017
  • Judicial Excellence Award, East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association, 2008
  • Trial Judge of the Year, Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, 2007


JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda (1996-2018)

  • Complex Litigation (2013-2018)
  • Trial Judge, Civil Direct Calendar (2009-2013)
  • Trial Judge, Asbestos Calendar/ Open Civil Trial Department (2008)
  • Presiding Judge, Master Calendar, Civil (2006-2007)
  • Assistant Presiding Judge/Supervising Judge, Master Calendar, Civil (2004-2005)
  • Trial Judge, Civil Jury Trials (2001-2004)
  • Supervising Judge, Gale Schenone Hall of Justice (1997-2000)
  • Trial Judge, Civil Jury Trials (1996)

​Judge, Municipal Court of California, Fremont-Newark-Union City Judicial District, County of Alameda (1989-1996)

  • Presiding Judge, Criminal Felony Master Calendar (1995-1996)
  • Trial Judge, Criminal Jury Trials (1989-1994)

Commissioner, Municipal Court of California, Fremont-Newark-Union City Judicial District, County of Alameda (1985-1989)

  • Traffic Court and Alcohol-Related Misdemeanor Driving Offenses (1985-1989)


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Private Practice, Xavier & Hernandez, Union City, California (1979-1985)

  • General Practice

Private Practice, Mushrush & Mooney, San Francisco, California (1977-1979)

  • Bankruptcy Trustee Representation, Commercial Collections

Faculty, Ohlone Community College (1975-1977)

  • Instructor: Political Science, Business Law


EDUCATION

  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 1976
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A. in Political Science, 1973


MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • California Judges Association
  • Complex Civil Litigation Judges’ Workshop
  • California Latino Judges Association
  • East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association
  • Women Lawyers of Alameda County
  • Alameda County Bar Association
  • Judicial Council of California