ADR Services
Hon. James P. Gray (Ret.)
After 25 years of service as a trial judge in the Orange County courts, Judge Gray is available as a mediator, arbitrator and discovery referee. Known for his work in creating novel programs aimed at curbing repeat alcohol-related and juvenile offenses, Judge Gray began to cultivate a reputation as an innovative jurist who proactively crafted creative solutions to the problems before him. After being elevated to the Superior Court in 1989, Judge Gray presided over calendars in civil, criminal, probate, adoptions, mental health and juvenile courts.
Judge Gray’s experienced realism, creativity, practicality, and disciplined optimism make him an ideal neutral to address and resolve tort and business disputes, as well as problems based upon emotion and company politics. During his years on the Superior Court, Judge Gray became known for settling the “unsettleable” cases. For example, he settled what was likely the first Catholic priest child sexual molestation case in the country, resulting in positive institutional changes in the Orange County and Los Angeles Dioceses of the Catholic Church. He also settled the difficult Wade Boggs palimony case, among others.
Areas of Expertise
- Business / Commercial Contract Disputes
- Real Estate (Commercial, Residential, Landlord – Tenant, HOA)
- Construction
- Employment, Wage & Hour, Wrongful Termination, PAGA
- Probate
- Legal Malpractice
- Insurance / Bad Faith
- Personal Injury
- Discovery Reference
- Medical Malpractice
Education
- 1966 University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.
- 1971 University of Southern California School of Law, J.D.
Judicial Experience
- 1989 – 2009 Orange County Superior Court Judge
- 1983 – 1989 Orange County Municipal Court, Central Orange County District
Legal & Trial Experience
- 1978 – 1983 Wyman, Bautzer, Rothman and Kuchel – Business litigation
- 1975 – 1978 Office of the United States Attorney, Los Angeles – Assistant US Attorney for the Criminal Division – Headed a unit prosecuting various frauds against the VA, FHA and other governmental agencies
- 1972 – 1975 Navy JAG Corps – Staff Judge Advocate and Criminal Defense Attorney
- Founder of Peer Court, a diversion program in which real juvenile cases are submitted to high school jurors for recommended sentences in 14 Orange County high schools
- Peace Corps Volunteer, Palmar Norte, Costa Rica (1966-68)
- California Judicial Council
- Orange County Board of Supervisors Alcohol Advisory Board
- California Department of Alcohol & Drug Programs Advisory Board
- Volunteer Center of Orange County Board of Directors
- Orange County Law Library Board of Directors
- Orange County Superior Court Executive Committee
- William P. Gray Chapter of the American Inns of Court, Founding President
- USC Law School Board of Councilors
- California Judicial Council Committee on Juvenile Justice
- Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
Over the years, Judge Gray has volunteered as a guest lecturer on numbers of professional subjects for the Continuing Education of the Bar (“CEB”), the College of Trial Advocacy (“COTA”), and the Business Litigation and the Probate Sections of the Orange County Bar Association. He has also taught an undergraduate class on the Criminal Justice System at Chapman University in Orange, California, and was a guest presenter at the Chapman University Law School in 2006 at their forum entitled “Are We at War?”
He is the author of three books and the composer of a high school musical:
Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed, and What We Can Do About It – A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs. 2001 (2d Edition, 2012) by Temple University Press.
Wearing the Robe: the Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today’s Courts. 2008 by Square One Press.
A Voter’s Handbook: Effective Solutions to America’s Problems. 2010 by The Forum Press.
“Americans All” – Full length and condensed versions which encourage young people to make good decisions while having good fun along the way.
Judge James P. Gray is the son of the distinguished late Federal District Court Judge William P. Gray (1912 – 2002).
He has also been awarded honorary doctor of laws degrees by both Western State University School of Law and Chapman University School of Law, and the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County annually names a recipient of the “Honorable James P. Gray Judge of the Year” award.
Judge Gray is married to Grace Walker Gray, has four children, including an adopted Vietnamese son, is a member of the Methodist church, lives in Newport Beach, California, and also writes a weekly column about issues of our day for The Daily Pilot newspaper.
Southern California Mediators & Arbitrators Office
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Downloads
ADR Arbitration Forms
In order to assist counsel in setting up arbitrations, below are several links. Please be advised that the information provided does not constitute legal advice provided by ADR Services, Inc., it’s employees or contractors. Non-represented parties are encouraged to seek independent counsel for assistance in arbitration matters.
ADR Mediation Forms
Arbitration – Alternative Dispute Resolution Types:
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