Friday, March 29, 2002
Page 4
Ventura County Trial Lawyers Name John Dobroth Judge of the Year
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Ventura Superior Court Judge John E. Dobroth was named judge of the year by the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association at the organization’s annual Judge’s Night dinner Tuesday in Oxnard.
The award, given to a Ventura judge who “exhibits exceptional wisdom, wit, patience, and understanding and compassion towards litigants and attorneys in the courtroom,” was presented to Dobroth by last year’s recipient, Ventura Superior Court Judge John R. Smiley.
Dobroth, who currently hears juvenile delinquency matters, advocated the creation of the Ventura Superior Court’s Homeless Court program, which won last year’s Ralph N. Kleps Award for Improvement in Administration of the Courts from the Judicial Council.
For 10 years Dobroth presided over the annual Stand Down court, a county program in which homeless veterans resolve outstanding fines and fees through community service performed at Ventura College during the event.
Dobroth was elected to the Ventura Municipal Court in 1986 and was elevated to the Superior Court when the county’s courts unified in 1998.
Prior to coming to the bench, he served as a deputy district attorney in Ventura for 14 years, taking a one-year leave of absence in 1974 to serve as the director of the California District Attorneys Association.
Dobroth, a world-class high jumper, taught junior high school and coached track in Corona before joining the legal profession.
He received his teaching credential from San Jose State College and his law degree from the UCLA School of Law.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company