Candidate for
Judge of the Superior Court; County of Riverside; Office 2

James Cox

Born in Hemet, CA Attended Hemet Public Schools. BA (1975) from UCI, School of Social Ecology emphasizing Criminal justice. JD cum laude (1978) Pepperdine University School of Law. Pepperdine University School of Law, Law Review 1976-77, 1977-78.

Riverside County Dep. Public Defender about 2 years (1978-80). Private Practice 1980 to 1996, COX & WARREN, COX & COX. City Attorney for the City of San Jacinto, 1985-1996.

While in practice in Hemet, I was active in community clubs and affairs, including Exchange Club, Episcopal Church Vestry, Ramona Pageant, Board of Ramona Hillside Players, Board of Mt San Jacinto AMI and others. I chaired the committee to select and fundraise for the new pipe organ at the Episcopal Church. Our law firm was the go-to firm for local charities to set up their non-profit status. We did many pro bono (usually donating the costs and filing fees).

I have always been and still maintain my membership with the ABA. Past president of the Mt San Jacinto Bar Association. Member (till appointment) of the Riverside County Bar Association. I was active in the Greater Inland Empire Municipal Lawyers Association (Giemla) and the City Attorney Division of the League of California Cities.

Fee Arbitrator for the California State Bar. Member of the Riverside Superior Court Arbitration Panel. I heard many dozens of civil arbitrations, all of which I did pro bono for the court.

I served pro tem regularly for the courts throughout mid-county

Appointed to the Coordinated Municipal Court by Governor Pete Wilson 1996 (Consolidated with the Superior Court 1998). For my first 8 years as judge, I was assigned to hear felony and misdemeanor trials and pre-trial proceedings. At about this same time, the Cambalik and Walker scandals occurred and I was asked to also hear the mid-county probate calendar once per week in Hemet. Throughout this period I also heard civil and UD matters. I was asked to process all of the Hemet Civil default (CCP 585) petitions and would weekly pick up and drop off about 20 of such files which I processed on my lunch hours (also used to prepare weekly probate calendars). For the latter part of this period I also processed the Banning CCP 585 defaults. After the loss of the Commissioner in Banning, I worked between two courtrooms 2 days per week, handling arraignments and traffic in one court, taking a break in the first courtroom to go to the second to take felony and misdemeanor pleas, and back and forth. I did this non-stop-no-break calendar for two years.

In 2004, while still hearing primarily criminal cases, I was asked to take over as supervising probate judge for the court. In 1995 I was asked to take over the eastern county probate department in Indio, and shortly thereafter, I was asked to also serve as back-up to Indio Family Law when the regular Family bench officers were unable to act. In addition to these duties, for a period of two years when the Riverside probate calendars were bursting, I traveled to Riverside every-other Friday to hear the Riverside probate calendar in order to give some relief to that bench officer. The Probate calendar includes hearings and trials in probate administration, trust administration, conservatorships and guardianships. I have heard many trials and proceedings concerning small estates to estates of many millions of dollars in size.

During most of my tenure in the desert, I have also heard the court's adoption and parent/child cases. These have recently been returned to Indio family law, but I continue to hear trials and cases still in process.

I continue to serve on the court's Executive Committee and other subordinate committees including the Jury Committee, Tribal Family Relations Committee, Probate Advisory Committee, Temporary Judges Committee and others.

I have provided legal training to attorneys and paralegals in probate issues including Probate Creditor Claim Procedure, Small Estate Probate Substitute Proceedings, Basics in Probate Petitions, and Basics in Probate Final Petitions.

I have been a diligent and dedicated servant to the public and the court and deserve to continue my service to the court.