Rebecca A. Wiseman
Education: University of Virginia School of Law, LL.M. in Judicial Process, 2001; University of California, Davis, J.D., 1980; California State University, Fresno, B.A. Journalism, summa cum laude, 1975
Judicial Positions and Assignments: Confirmed as an Associate Justice to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, 1995. Appointed to the Kern County Superior Court in 1991; handled the civil direct calendar assignment, mandatory settlement conferences, and civil and criminal trials. Appointed to the Bakersfield Municipal Court, 1986; responsible for running the civil department. Member of the California Judges Association Board of Directors, beginning September 2005; served as chair of the committee which, on behalf of the California Supreme Court, evaluates and rates judicial candidates for the State Bar Court, 1995 and 2000; President, California Judges Foundation, 1995-1996; Member of Judicial Council Appellate Advisory Committee, 1996-1998; Member of Judicial Council Library Technology Committee, 1996-1998; Member of Continuing Judicial Studies Program Planning Committee, 1997-1999; Member of Appellate Education Curriculum Planning Committee, 1997-1998 and 2000; and Chair, first Kern County “Meet Your Judges Forum,” 1990.
Teaching Experience: Frequent presenter for Thomson Publishing/The Rutter Group on wage-and-hour law and other employment-related topics, expert witnesses, and civil law updates; presented live, statewide Great Minds Broadcast on Appellate Practice Tips for Trial Judges; developed and presented a three-day course on Law and Economics for judges; instructor for the California New Judges Orientation program; faculty member, Witkin Judicial College of California; moderator, live, statewide broadcast of ethics course for appellate court justices; instructor, Writs and Administrative Mandamus Proceedings for Trial Judges; faculty member, California Pacific School of Law, instructing on Civil Procedure Before Trial.
Author: Co-author of Thomson Publishing/The Rutter Group California Practice Guide, Employment Litigation, and annual updates; author of California Lawyer article, “The Name is the Game”; author of The Journal of Law & Politics thesis entitled “So You Want to Stay a Judge: Name and Politics of the Moment May Decide Your Future”; author of Judges’ Journal book review entitled “From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality”; editor, Expert Witnesses 1998 for the California Judges Association and The Rutter Group; editor, Jury Information pamphlet distributed statewide to jurors reporting for jury duty, 1998.
Memberships: Member, Board of Directors, California Elected Women’s Association for Education and Research (CEWAER); Founding Member, Board of Governors, San Joaquin Valley Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL); Member, California Judges Association, National Women Judges Association, American Judges Association, American Bar Association, and California Women Lawyers.
Honors: Presiding Judge of final round, annual Justice Roger Traynor Moot Court Competition, 2002-2005; developed Appellate Court’s community program that takes the Court of Appeal “on the road” to hear appellate cases, 1997-2000; coordinator of youth program “Real to Reel Justice” presented by judges to students using popular movie clips addressing anger, diversity, tolerance, hate crimes, and disabilities, 1999 to date; Board member, Clovis West High School, Principal’s Advisors on Student Affairs (PASA), 2000-2004; Judge, Fresno County Superior Court Youth Court, in conjunction with Fresno County Office of Education, 2002-2005; developed program and requisite legislation for “Youthful Offender Driving Under the Influence Program” (students required to visit the morgue and hospital emergency room, meet with trained alcohol counselor and judge), 1989-1990; and Board Member, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Community Service: Presiding Judge of final round, annual Justice Roger Traynor Moot Court Competition, 2002-2005; developed Appellate Court's community program that takes the Court of Appeal "on the road" to hear appellate cases, 1997-2000; coordinator of youth program "Real to Reel Justice" presented by judges to students using popular movie clips addressing anger, diversity, tolerance, hate crimes, and disabilities, 1999 to date; Board member, Clovis West High School, Principal's Advisors on Student Affairs (PASA), 2000-2004; Judge, Fresno County Superior Court Youth Court, in conjunction with Fresno County Office of Education, 2002-2005; developed program and requisite legislation for "Youthful Offender Driving Under the Influence Program" (students required to visit the morgue and hospital emergency room, meet with trained alcohol counselor and judge), 1989-1990; and Board Member, St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
<< back
