Hon. Kevin R. Culhane (Ret.) Joins JAMS in Sacramento

JAMS is pleased to announce the addition of Hon. Kevin R. Culhane (Ret.) to its panel. Judge Culhane has joined JAMS as a neutral following a distinguished legal career spanning over four decades. He served for 13 years as a judge of the Sacramento Superior Court, including assignments in civil trials, civil law and motion, family law and probate.

During his tenure, Judge Culhane presided over more than 150 jury trials and conducted hundreds of settlement conferences leading to the resolution of some of the most high-profile civil cases. He was recognized as Judge of the Year in 2012 by the Sacramento Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Judge of the Year in 2013 by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers’ Association and Judge of the Year in 2017 by the Sacramento County Bar Association.

Based in the Sacramento Resolution Center, Judge Culhane will serve as an arbitrator, mediator and special master/referee, handling family law, real property/real estate, probate/estate/trust, professional liability, employment, health law/elder care, insurance, personal injury and torts, class action/mass torts, government and discovery/civil procedure disputes. He is available to conduct sessions in person (adhering to reopening guidelines), as well as virtually for attorneys and their clients across the country.

Judge Culhane is known for his belief and trust in the ADR process, as well as his dedication to his community. We are confident that his background has prepared him well to join the panel at JAMS.

- Chris Poole, JAMS CEO

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Culhane practiced complex civil litigation for 32 years. During this time, he handled and tried cases involving a broad range of disciplines, including products liability, personal injury, government tort liability, real property, insurance and professional liability.

Judge Culhane’s commitment to community service and the rule of law were recognized during his years as a lawyer. He served as a member of the California State Bar’s Board of Governors, where he had primary responsibility for the overhaul of the state’s attorney discipline system and the establishment of the State Bar Court. He then served two terms as a member of the Judicial Council. In 1993, he was recognized by the Judicial Council for his distinguished service and his work to address gender bias in the courts.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned how to partner closely with the parties to grasp every element necessary in any dispute. I am eager to begin this new chapter in my career as a neutral at JAMS.

- Hon. Kevin R. Culhane (Ret.)

He attended California State University, San Bernardino and received his J.D. from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and his JSM from Stanford University.