Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of Alameda; Office 9

I am Louis Goodman, running for Superior Court Judge of Alameda County.

For nearly 30 years, I have been a lawyer, law instructor, continuing legal education provider, and judge pro-tem in Alameda County. Here is why I feel qualified to serve as an Alameda County Superior Court Judge.

Since graduating from Hastings College of the Law, at University of California in San Francisco in 1980, I have worked in the courts of Alameda County. While still in law school, I started my career as clerk in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office in 1979. The Office honored me by hiring me as Deputy District Attorney in 1981.

Since 1987, for more than twenty years, I have also enjoyed success in private practice, representing individuals, and protecting their Constitutional rights. I have handled thousands of cases on every level and tried over fifty jury trials to verdict. As a practicing attorney, I am also a businessperson. I know what it means to meet a payroll, sign the front of the checks, and pay taxes. My ties to Oakland and Alameda County run deep, and I have spent much of my life trying to improve our community.

Volunteering as a Judge Pro-tem, I have handled thousands of traffic arraignments, hundreds of traffic trials, civil disputes in small claims courts, appeals, misdemeanor progress reports, and DUI sentencing hearings. My judicial experience makes me very aware of the impact of judicial decisions on individuals, families, and businesses. I approach each case with an open mind, and decide cases based on the facts and the law that applies to those facts. I am, have been, and will continue to be absolutely committed to providing an impartial forum to all those whose cases are presented in my courtroom.

My experience as a prosecutor and as a private practitioner will enable me to achieve balance on the bench. I understand the importance of fair and effective law enforcement; I also know that constitutional rights are critical, and believe these rights must be protected for the community to remain strong.

I have lived and worked in Alameda County for nearly thirty years. I am a citizen, and a business owner. My wife is a physician at Kaiser Hospital, in Oakland. My sister and her husband live in Piedmont and are both attorneys, each practicing in Alameda County. My uncle, a retired college professor and my aunt live in Berkeley. My uncle served on the Alameda County grand jury. In short, I have strong family ties to the Alameda County community as well.

Community service plays an important part in my life. In addition to regularly giving advice to indigent clients on a pro bono basis, I have served breakfast to underprivileged children, been a member and president of the Rotary club, volunteered at beach clean-up days, volunteered as an adviser for Moreau Catholic High School, volunteered at the YMCA, participated in my neighborhood crime watch program, and numerous other community events and services. I also volunteer my professional time as the continuing legal education chair of our local South Alameda County attorney's association. East Bay Law School recently appointed me as Dean of Academic Affairs.

I am proud to be endorsed by former Alameda County Sheriff, Charlie Plummer, as well as numerous elected officials, judges, attorneys, unions, teachers, police, fire personnel, physicians and community leaders. (Please see a more complete list of endorsers on this web site.) I am supported by a broad coalition of people. They endorse me because they know me and know that I have the compassion and experience, critical to being an effective judge. I respectfully ask for your support and your vote on June 8, 2010. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you.