Judge Barton brings more than four decades of experience as a trial lawyer, jurist, and neutral. Serving the San Diego Superior Court for over two decades, he presided over in excess of 200 jury and bench trials involving complex civil, family, and criminal matters. For 11 years he was an independent calendar civil judge, handling all aspects of civil litigation from filing through post-trial proceedings. In that role, he heard many of the court’s largest and most sensitive cases and conducted more than 200 settlement conferences, developing a strong appreciation for efficient and effective dispute resolution in both civil and family law matters. Before joining the bench, Judge Barton practiced as a civil trial lawyer for more than 20 years, focusing on professional liability, medical malpractice, product liability, and general civil litigation. He tried numerous cases to verdict and was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in 1995. He has also been a sustaining member of Lawyers Club for nearly two decades.

Judge Barton also held several leadership roles within the court, including Assistant Presiding Judge and Presiding Judge of the San Diego Superior Court. While serving as Presiding Judge, he was elected to chair the Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee, which serves as the voice of California’s trial courts. He worked closely with court leadership to transition the civil and family law divisions to electronic filing and case management systems, enabling continued court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also closely involved in developing the court’s discovery dispute resolution process and maintains a strong interest in the fair and efficient resolution of discovery issues.

Since joining Judicate West in 2021, Judge Barton has devoted his practice to private dispute resolution and has managed a wide range of arbitration matters from case inception to final award. In arbitration, he draws on his experience as both a long-time trial judge and trial lawyer to provide a structured, practical approach to case management and decision-making. He is particularly attentive to discovery issues and procedural efficiency, with the goal of resolving matters in a timely and even-handed manner. Attorneys describe his demeanor as calm, thoughtful, and fair-minded. He is well respected in the San Diego legal community and is known for his careful consideration of the issues presented.

Practice Areas
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Employment
  • Family Law
  • Medical Negligence
  • Personal Injury
  • Real Estate
Hobbies & Interests

Judge Barton enjoys surfing, cycling, circuit training, and camping.

Legal Career
  • Full-Time Neutral, Judicate West (2021-Present)
  • Judge, San Diego Superior Court (April 2001-April 2021), Independent Calendar Civil Judge (2004-2012), Civil Supervising Judge (2007-2013), Assistant Presiding Judge (2014-2015), Presiding Judge (2016-2017), Trial Judge, Civil, Family and Criminal (2018- 2021)
  • Partner, Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard (1990-2001)
  • Partner, Jennings Engstrand & Henrikson (1985-1990)
  • Associate, McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees, Sharkey & McIntyre (1981-1985)
Education & Professional Affiliations
  • J.D., University of San Diego School of Law (1981)
  • B.A., Magna Cum Laude, University of California, San Diego (1978)
  • San Diego Law Review, Articles Editor (1981)
  • San Diego Law Review, Member (1980-1981)
  • Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee, Chair (2016-2017)
  • Judicial Council of CA, Advisory Member (2016-2017)
  • Revenue and Expenditure Subcommittee of the Trial Court Budget Advisory Committee, Co-Chair (2017-2020)
  • San Diego Court Technology Committee, Chair (2007-2021)
  • San Diego Court Civil Policy Committee, Chair (2007-2103)
  • E-File and Imaging Governance Committee, Chair (2011-2015)
  • California Judges Association, Board of Directors (2006-2009)
  • ADR Committee San Diego Superior Court, Co-Chair (2004-2007)
  • Downtown Family Law, Site Supervising Judge (2003)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member (1995 - Present)
  • Enright Chapter American Inn of Court, Master (2017-2020)
Achievements & Awards
  • AV/Preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell
  • E. vanSonnenberg, M.D., J.Barton, J.D. and G. Wittich, M.D. “Radiology and the Law with an Emphasis on Interventional Radiology,” Radiology Vol. 187, No. 2 (May 1993)
  • Jeffrey B. Barton, J.D. “Liability Risks of Capitated Managed Care,” Neuropractice (Nov. 1995)
  • Jeffrey B. Barton, J.D. “Limiting Liability Risks for Physicians from Capitated Managed Care,” Neuropractice (January 1996)
  • Jeffrey B. Barton, J.D. “Legal Implications of Physician Profiling,” Neuropractice (July 1996)
Below is a sampling of the various matters Hon. Jeffrey Barton, Ret. presided over on the bench, tried as an attorney, or handled as a neutral.

Contractual

  • Mediated a Special Litigation Committee claims against defendants. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a dispute over a buyout of a minority member of an LLC involving business valuation issues. Settled at mediation.
  • Mediated a complex discovery dispute over investment and ownership of an LLC.
  • Discovery referee in a complex real estate complex transaction litigation involving tax issues.
  • Mediated a civil RICO and tort action over a business and professional liability dispute. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a family settlement of complicated contractual and real estate sale disputes. This case settled during an all-day mediation.

Contractual Healthcare

  • Adjudicated cases involving complex liability issues arising from capitated managed healthcare and procedure billing codes and claims of inflating procedure costs.

Independent Contractor

  • Mediated a case involving a breach of contract and fraud cause of action in a business dispute, settled in a half-day mediation.

Cannabis Breach Of Contract

  • Mediated a dispute between owners of cannabis business, including valuation of business and assets. Settled after all-day mediation.

Constr. Defect/Real Property

  • Mediated many construction defect cases, which include but are not limited to failure to disclose and claims of fraud in real estate transactions.

Sexual Harassment

  • Mediated extensive discovery disputes in the "Window Period" of an alleged sexual assault case.

Wrongful Term & Discrimination

  • Mediated, litigated and resolved employment law disputes, including multiple wage and hour cases, PAGA actions, as well as matters involving discrimination and sexual harassment.

Wrongful Termination

  • Mediated a case involving wage and hour violations and pregnancy discrimination claims settled in one-day mediation.

Family Law Issues

  • Mediated a complex division of marital property including valuation and equalization of business.
  • Mediated a complicated marital dissolution case involving long-term spousal support, educational fund issues, and practice buyout provisions settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving complex high-asset family law issues relating to commercial and residential properties.

Medical

  • Mediated a case involving allegations of failure to diagnose bowel obstruction leading to death. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving allegations of negligence in the treatment of a 5150 patient. Settled at mediation.
  • Mediated many medical negligence cases and trials while on the bench and worked as a medical malpractice lawyer for 20 years prior. Cases include failure to diagnose cancer, complications of cardiac surgery, claims of Hypoxia and other labor and delivery issues, drug complications in off-label applications, and more.
  • Mediated a case involving alleged failure to diagnose lung cancer settled in half-day mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving a discovery referee on a complicated medical malpractice action suit.
  • Mediated a case involving psychiatric malpractice causing wrongful death that was settled during mediation.
  • Mediated a medical malpractice case against a hospital, alleging nursing-related errors involving fluid administration and follow-up on ordered imaging studies.

Breach Of Contract

  • Mediated a dispute between a subcontractor and a general contractor on a large public project that was settled after two mediation sessions and extensive follow up.

Buy/Sell

  • Mediated a complex real property dispute involving the sale of a large commercial property.

Eminent Domain

  • Mediated a complex legal and valuation issues in condemnation proceeding. Settled after all-day mediation.

Landlord/Tenant

  • Mediated a complex case among a commercial landlord, tenant, and real estate brokers.

Property Damage

  • Mediated a case involving allegations of negligent dishwasher repair by home warranty company leading to water leak and mold growth. Settled in mediation with mediators proposal.

PI Sexual Assault

  • Mediated a "Window" case involving alleged sexual abuse from about five decades ago.

PI Sexual Molestation

  • Mediated a window period case involving alleged sexual abuse about two decades ago. Settled after numerous post-session contacts by the mediator.

Business Torts

  • Mediated a wrongful death and survivorship medical malpractice action involving allegations of failure to diagnose meningitis, which was resolved in an all-day mediation.

General Negligence

  • Mediated a case involving catastrophic injuries with need for lifetime attendant care in a medical malpractice action.

PI Auto

  • Mediated a auto accident case involving side swipe and soft tissue injuries. Settled at mediation.
  • Mediated a admitted liability auto vs. pedestrian case with mild traumatic brain injuries. Settled during mediation.
  • Mediated a admitted liability rear-end auto accident with injuries to two plaintiffs. Settled in mediation.

Premises Liability

  • Mediated a case involving a plaintiff who suffered a head injury when merchandise fell on him. The case involved intracranial bleed. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving a plaintiff who slipped and fell fracturing an ankle. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a slip and fall case leading to head injury and CSF leak leading to significant complications. Settled after two mediations.
  • Mediated a slip and fall case with shoulder injuries in a large store. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a fall case in a store leading to chronic neck and wrist injuries. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving injury to a paraplegic hotel patron. Settled in mediation.
  • Mediated a slip and fall case with multiple surgeries. The case involved significant causation issues and was settled during a half day mediation.
  • Mediated a case involving a trip and fall from a walker with chiropractic treatment.
  • Mediated a case involving a head injury in a warehouse store.
Judicate West is lucky to have this experienced jurist on its panel of neutrals. Judge Barton was extremely thorough and decisive in putting together a 27-page Statement of Decision after a lengthy and complex Family Law trial over which he presided with patience and empathy for the parties and a minor child. I believe he will be an exceptional mediator, arbitrator, and private judge. I highly recommend him.
- San Diego Attorney
I am so pleased to hear that Judge Jeffrey Barton has joined Judicate West. I have found Judge Barton to be calm, dedicated, empathetic, and respectful. What sets Judge Barton apart as an outstanding mediator is his superior knowledge of the law as a long-time civil trial judge and his prior reputation as an outstanding and seasoned civil trial attorney. He is a problem solver who inspires trust and confidence, plus he is just a really nice and solid guy.
- Partner at a San Diego Law Firm
Judge Barton used good instincts to help us settle the case.
- Attorney on a Family Law Case
We and our client really appreciated Judge Barton's deep dive into the pre-mediation materials and willingness to speak about the unique dynamics of this multi-party, two-state, 4 different actions attempt to resolve all 4 cases globally.
- Attorney on a Professional Malpractice Legal Case
Judge Barton was prepared and did not waste time with opening statements or preliminaries. He got right to work from the start. We really appreciate that. He was thoughtful, listened to us, and did a great job trying to bridge the gap between our positions.
- Attorney on a Government/Public Agency Matters Case
This was the first time I have used Judge Barton, and I was extremely impressed. He did a great job involving my client. We were both very happy with the outcome.
- Attorney on a Personal Injury Sexual Assault Case
Judge Barton has the perfect balance of patience and guidance towards resolving the case. If asked, he is not afraid to give realistic feedback. He had read briefs and was very prepared. The case resolved, largely thanks to him.
- Attorney on a Family Law Case
Judge Barton did an excellent job. I will definitely recommend we use him again.
- Super Lawyer and Partner at a San Diego-based Firm
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Hon. Jeffrey B. Barton, Ret.
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