Case Manager: Katy Jones
Hon. Victoria Wood (Ret.) is a retired Judge of the Napa County Superior Court where she served her community with dedication for nearly two decades. Judge Wood’s judicial tenure was marked by versatility, as she has presided over a wide range of cases in various assignments, including civil, probate and family law. Her responsibilities extended to overseeing complex jury trials, appeals, and high-conflict mediations. She also held diverse and impactful roles in court leadership, including serving as the Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Court, and as Lead Judge for the Civil, Juvenile, and Family Law Divisions.
For three years, Judge Wood played a crucial role as the judicial liaison to the Napa County Civil Grand Jury, where she supervised recruitment, investigation, and reporting efforts. Her expertise and dedication to legal education and research is further evident in her 18-year service on the Napa County Law Library Board of Trustees, where she recently served as the immediate past president.
Prior to her appointment to the superior court bench, Judge Wood’s contributions to the Court included close to five years as Court Commissioner, where she presided over a family law calendar that included dissolution and child custody matters, as well as restraining orders, child support and small claims cases, in addition to criminal matters. She also worked for nearly a decade as court counsel, performing the legal research and writing for tentative rulings, orders, and opinions for civil law and motion, probate, and Appellate Division matters. In addition to her time at the superior court, Judge Wood also gained valuable experience working as a chambers attorney for Justice Wes Walker at the First District Court of Appeal, and in private practice.
Judge Wood received a B.S. in Sociology and a B.A. in Spanish from Pacific Union College, graduating magna cum laude. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law, where she will be teaching an Alternative Dispute Resolution Class in the Fall of 2024.
Judge, Superior Court of California, County of Napa 2017-2024
Commissioner, Superior Court of California, County of Napa 2013-2017
Court Counsel, Superior Court of California, County of Napa 2004-2013
Attorney, Hanna, Brophy, MacLean, McAleer & Jensen, San Francisco 1998-2000; 2002-2004
Chambers Attorney, 1st District Court of Appeal, San Francisco 2001
Associate Attorney, Harbinson, Carlson & Tune, San Francisco 1997-1998
“Judge Wood came onto a case that I thought would never settle. The parties were very far apart and had been fighting for years. One of the parties was self-represented. She was patient with the parties. Walking them through their distrust to reach a resolution and move on with their lives. It took time, but Judge Wood held in there with her patience that made all the difference. I wouldn’t hesitate to use her expertise to help on any case, but especially one with high conflict and deep distrust between the parties.”
“Judge Wood’s numerous qualities that make her so successful in mediating and settling high conflict family law cases include her ability to analyze complex legal issues, her keen knowledge of the law, her range of experience in various capacities as a judge, her caring nature for the involved parties, and her concern for the well-being of minors. Judge Wood specializes in finding solutions to difficult problems and has the intelligence, level-headedness, and demeanor to carry the most challenging cases through to a resolution that heals and restores equanimity in families.”
“Judge Wood approaches every matter with fairness, kindness and sharp legal acuity. She leaves litigants feeling respected and understanding of the compromises that were necessary to resolve the issue. Judge Wood is sure to be an asset to the ADR community.”
“Judge Wood has a knack for proposing creative solutions in the midst of a pressure-filled family law dynamic where emotions are wound tight. She is both compassionate and realistic; this mindset resonates with clients and inspires trust and a willingness to compromise.”
“Judge Wood is an excellent mediator. Her understanding and compassion towards complex legal and emotional matters results in positive outcomes, even with the most skeptical of litigants. She offers unique solutions to resolve matters while keeping parties focused on compromise and resolution. I have utilized her in several matters, and highly recommend her for dispute resolution.”
