Justice For All at CWC

    Mt. Diablo Branch Welcomes
  Justice James Marchiano

Is the court scene in your latest story accurate? Does your judge sound like a real judge? Find out at our April meeting, when California Appellate Court Justice James Marchiano joins us to discuss a variety of legal topics of interest to writers, including the difference between real life and the lawyers on TV, how to do research to make your story realistic, and what the heck does in limine mean? If you’re not writing a mystery or legal thriller, are you worried that your characters are involved in a situation that is just too far-fetched? Justice Marchiano will also offer stories of “stranger than fiction” cases he’s been involved in that dispel that fear. Whether you’re writing about murder or the mysterious behavior of human beings, you won’t want to miss this rare glimpse into the real-life workings of the criminal justice system. There will be time for questions that you might have.

As those who work with him can tell you, Justice Marchiano is well aware of the importance of good writing. He’s the author of a variety of law-related materials, including chapters on trial conduct and jury management. He acted as a consultant on civil procedure and evidence books and the Jury Management Handbook, and is the co-author of Deposition Practice Handbook for the Continuing Education of the Bar. He has taught at a variety of legal institutions, and is a former Adjunct Professor of Law at Hastings College of the Law.

Justice Marchiano specialized in civil litigation as a partner in San Francisco and Oakland law firms until his appointment to the Contra Costa County Superior Court in 1988. He served there until 1998 as a General Trials Judge, Civil Fast Track Judge, Civil Settlement Conference Judge, Probate Judge, and Death Penalty Panel Judge, presiding over numerous high-profile cases. He was appointed and confirmed as an Associate Justice to the First District Court of Appeal, Division One, in September 1998, and served as an Associate Justice until January 2002, when he was confirmed as Presiding Justice of Division One.