Profile

John J. Collins

City: Laguna Beach

State Bar of California Admission Date: January 9, 1962

Other Jurisdictions:

• Federal District Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

Education:

•  University of Santa Clara, B.A. degree, 1958
• Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, LLB, 1961
• University of Southern California Law Center, Graduate Study, 1961 – 1962 

Employment:

• Collins, Collins, Muir and Stewart, 1985-2008 (*Retired)
• Collins and Collins, 1964-1884
• Deputy County Counsel, County of Los Angeles, 1961-1964
• Research Assistant, Los Angeles County Superior Court, 1961

State Bar Activities:

• Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, member 2009 – present
  Chair, 2012-2013
  Vice chair, 2011-2012
• Vice President/Board of Trustees, 1998-1999
• Board of Trustees, 1996-1999
• Probation Monitor, 1990-1994
• State Bar Court Referee, 1978-1980; Principal Referee, 1980-1989

Local /National Bar Activities:

• American Bar Association
  Committee on Torts and Insurance Practice
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
  President, 2004 – 2005
  Trustee, 1991 – 1994; 2000 – 2006
  Trial Lawyers Section, 1967 – 1987
  Litigation Section, 1987 – present, Executive Committee, 1992 – 1995
  Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1988 – 1995
  Trial Judge of the Year Committee, 1993, 1995 (Chairman)
  Court Improvement Committee, 1987 – 1988
  Committee on the Judiciary, 1994 – 1995
  Governance Committee, 1995 – 1997
  Blue Ribbon Committee, 1995 – 2007 (Chairman)
  Budget Committee, 1993 (Chairman)
• Orange County Bar Association
• Pasadena Bar Association
  President, 1989 – 1990
  President Elect, 1988
  Vice President, 1987
  Trustee, 1986 – 1987

Professional/Honorary Memberships

• Judicial Council of California, Attorney Member, 1999 – 2002
• Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, President, 1982 – 1984; and Board of Directors, 1979 – 1985
• California Defense Counsel, President, 1993; Board of Directors 1985 – 1996
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), rank – Diplomate, member since 1970
• American Board of Trial Advocates, National Board of Directors, 1984 – 1993, 1996 and 1998
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Los Angeles Chapter, President, 1989
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Cal-ABOTA, Chairman, 1990
• American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
• The Chancery Club

Other Activities:

• Orange County Grand Jury, 2008 – 2009 (Foreman Pro-Tem)
• Los Angeles County ― Superior Court
  AB3300/3820 Committee ― LASC, 1988 – 2007
  Arbitration Committee ― LASC, 1986 – 1990
  Chapter 13 Rules Committee ― LASC, 1992
  Chapter 7 & 8 Rules Committee ― 1993 – 1994
  Ad Hoc Committee Rule Revision ― LASC, 1993
  Arbitrator, LASC, inception to present
  Settlement Officer, LASC ― JASCOP, Olympics Crash
  Bench and Bar Committee, LASC, 1989 – 1992
  Judge Pro Tem ― Los Angeles County Municipal and Superior Courts

Honors:

• Listed in THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA, 1987 – 2008 Editions (21 years)
• California Trial Lawyer of the Year – ABOTA, 1991
• SUPER LAWYERS (Los Angeles and Orange Counties)
• Los Angeles County Bar Association – Outstanding Committee Service Award, 1999
• Pasadena Bar Association - Donald R. Wright Distinguish Service Award, 2002
• METROPOLITAN NEWS - ENTERPRISE – Person of the Year, 2004
• Loyola Law School – Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2005
• Loyola Law School – Champion of Justice Award, 2008
• Loyola Law School – Board of Overseers, 2008 –