Nov 8, 2026
Comm. Thomas A. Rasch (Ret.) Joins ADR Services, Inc.
ADR Services, Inc. is proud to welcome Commissioner Thomas A. Rasch (Ret.) to our panel of distinguished neutrals.
Commissioner Rasch brings 40 years of judicial service and more than 5,000 settlement conferences to his practice as a neutral with ADR Services, Inc. With a career spanning civil litigation, judicial decision-making, and court-sponsored dispute resolution, Commissioner Rasch has developed a reputation for patience, fairness, practical judgment, and a steadfast commitment to helping parties resolve even the most challenging disputes.
Elected to the Alameda Municipal Court in 1986 and subsequently elevated to the Alameda County Superior Court, Commissioner Rasch served in a broad range of judicial assignments involving civil trials, law and motion, personal injury, employment disputes, real property litigation, landlord-tenant matters, and other civil controversies. His experience encompasses both jury and bench trials, providing him with a practical understanding of how cases are presented, evaluated, and ultimately decided.
For the final seven years of his judicial career, Commissioner Rasch served in the Court’s Civil Settlement Department, where he devoted his work to resolving disputes across the spectrum of civil law. Over the course of his four decades on the bench, he conducted more than 5,000 settlement conferences. His extensive settlement work includes personal injury and professional negligence claims, employment discrimination and wrongful termination matters, breach of contract disputes, real property and construction-related litigation, and landlord-tenant controversies.
Colleagues have sought Commissioner Rasch’s guidance on civil law issues, particularly landlord-tenant matters, and he has helped train fellow judicial officers in civil calendars and proceedings. He also served as Co-Chair of the Alameda County Superior Court’s ADR Committee during 2025–2026, reflecting his longstanding commitment to effective dispute resolution.
Commissioner Rasch approaches mediation with the conviction that resolving litigation can accomplish something beyond avoiding the expense and uncertainty of trial: it can allow parties to move forward. His combination of judicial experience, substantive breadth, empathy, humor, and determination makes him particularly well suited to disputes requiring careful evaluation, thoughtful communication, and sustained efforts toward settlement.