Detailed Bio of Colleen K. Sterne

By Colleen K. Sterne

Additional Information on the Education, Experience and Community Involvement of Colleen K. Sterne

Colleen K. Sterne, candidate for Superior Court judge, is a 25-year resident of Santa Barbara County. A civil trial lawyer for 14 years, she has substantial experience in all types of civil cases, from contract, real property and business cases to arson, sexual molestation, medical malpractice and a wide array of injury cases. She has broad experience in jury and court trials in courts all over the State, from Tuolomne County to Los Angeles County- although she has been particularly active in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Ms. Sterne currently practices as a mediator, arbitrator, special master and settlement master for the court. In her work as settlement master, which is time donated to the court, she has assisted civil judges in settling civil cases, an experience that has further exposed her to the widest possible array of litigated matters. She has an excellent settlement rate and reputation for fairness. She is frequently selected to act as mediator and arbitrator, and is a member of the court's CADRe mediation panel.

Graduating second in her class from Santa Barbara College of Law in 1988, Ms. Sterne has obtained a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University, which represents more than 300 hours of specialized training in mediation, arbitration and negotiation.

Ms. Sterne is a leader among her fellow lawyers. She is a member of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association, and has served on the State Bar Conference of Delegates. She is a Barrister in the William L. Gordon Inn of Court, a member of the Southern California Mediation Association, and a member of the Santa Barbara Womens' Political Committee. She is an active member of Santa Barbara Women Lawyers (President, 1995-1997).

Active in the community, she has served on the vestry of Trinity Church, and has been a volunteer for the Transition House homeless shelter and has engaged in many other volunteer activities. She supports the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Zoo, The Coalition to Provide Shelter for the Homeless and Girls, Inc. Her most recent community activity has been serving on a committee that holds sober block parties for college students.

Ms. Sterne says: "I will be a firm, even-handed judicial presence in Santa Barbara County. I will serve the entire community, promote public safety and insure that the community's civil disputes and criminal matters are handled in an efficient and appropriate manner. The office of judge is one of important public trust, and I pledge to bring to it the highest degree of dedication, ethics and integrity. The community deserves a diligent, courteous, and courageous judge. I will prepare thoroughly for the cases coming before the bench, will rule fairly in accordance with the law, and will treat all who come before the court with dignity and respect."

Ms. Sterne is endorsed Judge Zel Canter, Court Commissioner Deborah Talmage, many members of the legal and professional community, and numerous individuals. You may obtain more information about her campaign on her website, http://www.sterneforjudge.com, or call her office at (805) 965-6955.