Following 20 years of continuous service on the bench in Santa Barbara County, Judge Slater retired from the Superior Court in 1997.  During his judicial career he presided over civil jury and court trials, settlement conferences, civil law and motion, family court, probate court and criminal proceedings.  The civil assignments predominated his calendar and covered virtually all areas of law.  Judge Slater works independently and is also affiliated  with the American Arbitration Association.  He is a member of the AAA's Large Complex Case Panel and an arbitrator on the Commercial (including Real Property), Employment, Construction Defect, and Class Action panels.

As a mediator, Judge Slater is well respected within the tri-counties for being insightful, innovative and consistently objective.  He is known for his ability to persuade parties to continue talking and working toward settlement.  As an arbitrator, Judge Slater is recognized for his dedication to reaching a just decision, and for being unremittingly fair, kind and responsive to each party's needs.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Private Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master / Referee (1997 - Present).

Judge, Superior Court, County of Santa Barbara (1982 -1997).

Judge, Municipal Court, County of Santa Barbara (1977 - 1982).

Third District Supervisor, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors (1973-1977).

Attorney, Private Practice (1966 - 1977).

Deputy District Attorney, County of Santa Barbara (1965 - 1966).

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS &  EDUCATION

State Bar of California

California Judges Association

Association for Conflict Resolution

University of Notre Dame (JD – 1964)

Iona College (BA, History – 1961)

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION TRAINING

American Arbitration Association - Construction Mediation Conference, “What You Can’t Not Know,” 2007; AAA – Arbitration Awards:  Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 2006;  AAA – Chairing an Arbitration Panel; Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics, 2005; AAA – Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure, 2004; AAA – Commercial Arbitrator I and Arbitrator II Training, 2002; AAA – Annual Arbitrator Update Training, 2002; Rutter Group – Employment Litigation Seminars, 2006 & 1998; Golightly Seminars, Advanced Mediation Training, 1999; Pepperdine University, Master’s Forum, 2000; Pepperdine University, Advanced Mediation Training, 1998; California Judges Education & Research Institute / California Judges Association, Civil Law/Mediation Seminar, 2001; CJER/CJA, Judges College, 1990 and prior.

ADR SPECIALIZATION

Business and partnership disputes/dissolutions, employment (wrongful termination, wage and hour, gender/race-based bias or harassment), real property (failure to disclose defects, contract disputes, structural defects), contracts, insurance, and personal injury litigation.

AVAILABLE STATEWIDE (CALIFORNIA) & WESTERN UNITED STATES

E-mail Hon. James M. Slater

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