Introduction
After 20 years of service, Judge Goldberg retired from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 9th Circuit, Central District
of California, where he presided over and mediated all types of bankruptcy and non bankruptcy related issues
including but not limited to class actions involving multiple insurance coverage issues, complex commercial matters
involving real estate, banking/lending, title insurance, collateralized debt obligations, securities, patent and
copyright issues. During his time on the bench, Judge Goldberg earned a reputation with both the bench and the bar
as the "go-to" guy for mediation of all types of problem disputes mediating many hundreds of cases for all other 21
Judges in the Central District.
After his retirement in 2008, Judge Goldberg utilized his people skills exploring new avenues of service such as
hospice care, teaching and working with children. All the while his passion for mediation remained front and center
so much so that it led to him to teaching an advanced course in mediation skills at the famed Straus Institute for
Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Law School . He found it so invigorating that he ultimately decided to continue
teaching and became an adjunct professor and to further serve the community as a private mediator with Judicate West.
Judge Goldberg has been a featured speaker about bankruptcy, transportation, real estate and family law, plus
mediation and effective communication skills. He was a panel speaker at the International Conference of Judges
sponsored by World Bank and Pepperdine University at which over 40 nations were present, and he was recently one
of four Professors/ judicial mediators to introduce mediation skills to lawyers and judges in the Republic of Uganda.
Many of the attorneys who have worked with Judge Goldberg over the years have commented that although their experience
with him as a mediator was initially through the bankruptcy court, his skills are obvious to all and translate well
into all other areas of civil litigation. One noted, "He is simply an excellent mediator." Today, having been a private
mediator of hundreds of cases for several years, he is best known for being "well prepared," thorough, fair and
respectful" and most of all for being a "gifted storyteller in highly emotional cases."
Specialties
Hobbies & Interests
Interests include travel, golf, working as a Hospice volunteer, teaching and children's story teller
Testimonials
He saw problems clearly, wad prepared, did not act like a judge, understood the human dynamics, + pushed when necessary.
- Attorney on a business/contractual dispute
I wanted to thank Judge Goldberg for his superb handling of the mediation yesterday. I was singularly impressed!
His professionalism and humanity are exemplary.
- Attorney, Orange County, California
The mediation Judge Goldberg handled for our client reached a successful conclusion. The settlement was approved.
Some clients are more difficult than others - and Judge Goldberg handled our with ease.
I look forward to working with him again in the future.
- Attorney, Orange County, California
Judge Goldberg has an outstanding temperament for a mediator. He is a great study and tireless in working toward solution.
- Attorney on a business/contractual dispute
