Profile
Judge Eaton has a well-deserved reputation for being dedicated, innovative and a highly successful facilitator of settlements. Such skills earned him the 1995 Trial Judge of the Year award by the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.
- Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, retired January 4, 1999
- Currently specializes in mediation, in civil, family law and probate matters
- January 12, 1982:
Appointed Judge of the Superior Court, County of Alameda. Unopposed for election (six-year term) 1982, 1988 & 1992 - January 1997 – January 1999:
Civil jury and non-jury trails, adoptions, case management and settlement calendars - June 1989 – January 1997:
Supervising Judge of the Superior Court Eastern Division. Presided over the Family Law, Probate, Adoption, Law and Motion, case management and settlement calendars - January 1987 – June 1989:
Civil jury and non-jury trials - January – December 1986:
Judge Juvenile Court - December 1982 – January 1986:
Presiding Judge, Criminal - April 1, 1978 – May 30, 1978:
Pro-Tem Justice, Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, division 2 (Assigned by Chairperson of the Judicial Council) - January 30, 1976:
Appointed Judge of the Municipal Court Livermore/Pleasanton Judicial District, County of Alameda; Unopposed for election (six-year term) 1978
Employment
1966 – 1976 General Partner
Miller, Critchfield & Eaton (now Miller, Critchfield, Eaton & Noonan)
Specializing in general civil litigation, family law, guardianships, adoptions, business, and Workers’ Compensation.
1964 – 1966 Associate, Miller, Haygood & Critchfield
Education
- Brandeis University – Waltham, MA (1956-1960)
B.A. – History and Political Science - Stanford University School of Law – Palo Alto, CA (1960-1963) J.D.
- California Bar Exam – Fall 1963. Admitted to Bar – January 1964
- Mediation Training Program (40 hours) – Mediation Office of Steven Rosenberg (2000)
- Numerous seminars and courses presented by the CA Judges Association, CA Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER), CEB, and Rutter group on all areas of law including employment, landlord-tenant, evidence, family, contracts, settlement techniques, etc. (1976 – 1999)
- 1962 – 1963 School year – Volunteer student legal aid advisor (10 hours/week)
Santa Clara Legal Aid Society – received award as outstanding student legal aid advisor – May 1963 - 1964 – 1968 Reader – State of California Bar Examiners – grading Spring and Fall bar examinations and summer first year bar examinations
Professional Activities
- Member, California Judges Association (1976 – present)
- Member, California Alameda & Eastern Alameda County Bar Associations (1964 – present)
- California Center for Judicial Education & Research (CJER)
o Seminar leader for one-week orientation session for newly-appointed judges
March 1977 – March 1981
o Faculty member (Criminal pre-trial and law and motion)
New Judge Orientation Sessions (3) – 1985
o Faculty member (sentencing misdemeanants – 4 hours and criminal law and motion – 16 hours)
Continuing Judicial Studies Program – January 1981
o Seminar leader for two-week session for newly-appointed judges – July 1986
o Seminar leader for Family Law and Procedures Institute – March 1990
o Alameda County Bar Association Faculty Member – success in Law & Motion Seminar – Spring 1993-1997
o The Rutter Group Faculty Member – Family Law Update – 1995 - Instructor – Alameda County Sheriffs Academy – 1976-1985
- Trustee, Vice President & President, Alameda County Law Library (1988 – 1997)
- Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyer Association
o 1995 Trial Judge of The Year - Valley Memorial Hospital – Livermore, CA – Director, July 1982–July 1985
- Pacific Health Care – Director, September 1985–June 1989
- Alameda County Legal Aid Society – Director, 1970-1992
- Moderator for Livermore-Pleasanton Community Television panel shows (3)
- Judge Pro Tem in San Leandro-Hayward Municipal Court, Livermore-Pleasanton
- Municipal Court, Livermore Justice Court and Pleasanton Justice Court
- Volunteer legal advisor for over 30 non-profit corporations and associations including
o Southern Alameda County Head Start Program, Inc.
o CAPE (Community Association for Pre-School Education)
o Health Care Concerns Committee, Inc.
o Nursery School Scholarship Fund
o Project Southwest
o Latin Organization for Betterment, Inc.
o Livermore Cultural Arts Council, Inc.
o Livermore Civic Chorus
o Livermore Bicentennial Organization
o Valley Ecology Center
o Churches (16)
o PTA’s (4)
Community Activities
Student Education Loan Fund, Director, 1968-1976; President, 1971-1972
- Livermore Active 20-30 Club, Member, 1964-1968; President 1967-1968
- City of Livermore Beautification Committee (Appointed by City Council), Member, 1968-1971; Vice Chairperson, 1968-1969
- City of Livermore Ad Hoc Human Relations Commission (Appointed by City Council), Member, 1968
- Valley Communities Economic Opportunities Organization, Member, Legal Advisory Board – 1966-1967
- Livermore Chamber of Commerce, Director, 1966-1972; Education Committee Chairperson, 1966-1968; Vice President (civic development), 1968-1969
- ACCORD (A Coordinating Committee to Overcome Racial Division), Member, 1968-Present
- Livermore Valley Jewish Community Center Trustee, 1970-1971
- TEAM (Elementary School PTA), Executive Committee, 1974-1975
Took active role in support of all school and park district bond and /or tax elections as follows:
Livermore Schools
1969: Finance Chairperson
1971: Area Chairperson
1975: Area Chairpersonoo
Chabot College
1972: Area Chairperson
Park and Recreation District
1972: Executive Committee
- Valley Memorial Hospital – Director, 1983 – 1986
- Axis Community Health – Director, 2001 – Present
- Tri Valley Conservancy – Director, 2001 – 2011
- Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center – Director, 2014 – Present
- Congregation Beth Emek – Trustee, 2015 to present
