2002-02-19

PRESS RELEASE
February 19, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILLIE LOTT JR. SELECTED COURT COMMISSIONER
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA,
ASSUMES OFFICE ON MARCH 1, 2002

Harry R. Sheppard, Presiding Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, is pleased to announce that Willie Lott Jr., Deputy County Counsel for the Office of County Counsel, Alameda County, has been selected for the position of Court Commissioner. Mr. Lott will take the oath for the office of Court Commissioner on March 1, 2002, and assumes his judicial officer duties immediately thereafter. Mr. Lott will be assigned to Department 131 in the Allen E. Broussard Justice Center for the 2002 calendar year, by the Presiding Judge.

Mr. Lott commented on his new career with the Superior Court as follows, “I am certainly honored to have been selected to serve as Court Commissioner. My career as an attorney has been spent in the public service, first with the City of San Jose, and currently with the County of Alameda. This appointment will allow me to continue to serve the public, but now as a member of the distinguished bench of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. I look forward to continuing my service to the people of Alameda County.”

Judge Sheppard stated that “the Court is indeed fortunate to have an individual with such a solid professional track record, join the judicial branch of government.”

Court Commissioners may be assigned to any court location and to any area including but not limited to Civil, Small Claims, Traffic, Criminal, Probate, Family Law, Child Support, Juvenile or Mental Health and are required to be available 24 hours per day, seven (7) days per week on a rotating basis, to serve as the Duty Officer for Countywide Emergency Protective Orders.

As a Deputy County Counsel from 1979 to the present, Mr. Lott’s responsibilities included counsel of the cases in Superior Court of the establishment of LPS (mental health) conservatorships, including writs of habeas corpus and LPS (mental health) jury trials. He also served as legal counsel for the County Mental Health Department in hearings filed pursuant to, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as representing the County of Alameda in hearings before the Board of Retirement of Alameda County and Legal Counsel for patient care matters for the Alameda County Medical Center. As Deputy County Counsel Willie Lott represented the County of Alameda, in its capacity as an employer, in labor-related litigation matters, such as employee grievance arbitration, employment discrimination, and disciplinary appeals. He provided legal advice to county departments regarding personnel matters and has litigated jury and non-jury trials.

Willie Lott served as Deputy City Attorney from 1974-1979 in the San Jose City Attorney’s Office. There he represented the City of San Jose in personal injury litigation, contract disputes and litigation, employment discrimination, and disciplinary appeals. He provided legal advice to county departments regarding personnel matters. He handled both jury and non-jury trials.

Mr. Lott was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1973. He graduated from the University of California School of Law (King Hall), Davis, California with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1972.

Mr. Lott is a member of numerous professional associations including the Alameda County Bar Association and the National Bar Association.

The contact for this information release is Barbara J. Fox, Chief Assistant Executive Officer, Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, at (510) 272-6504.