Lee Smalley Edmon

Lee Smalley Edmon

Presiding Justice
Division Three
Since 2014

Professional Background:

Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal
Second Appellate District, Division 3

On August 28, 2014, she was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, after receiving an “exceptionally well qualified” rating from the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission.

Judge of the Superior Court, County of Los Angeles
August 2000 - January 2015
Presiding Judge (2011-2012)
Assistant Presiding Judge (2009-2010)
Supervising Judge of the Civil Departments (2007-2008)

Attorney at Law, private practice for 19 years
Lawyer, Dewey Ballantine LLP (associate, 1987-1990; partner, 1990-2000)
Lawyer, Adams Duque & Hazeltine (associate, 1981-1987)
General civil litigation practice, with an emphasis on business litigation.

Professional Membership and Participation:

She served on the following local, statewide and national court-related committees:

Judicial Council of California

  • Member, Task Force on Trial Court Fiscal Responsibility (2013-2014)
  • Member, Trial Court Budget Working Group (2011-2012)
  • Member, Trial Court Presiding Judges Advisory Committee Executive Committee (2011- 2013)
  • Member, Judicial Council of California (2008 -2010)
  • Chair, Judicial Council Litigation Management Committee (2009-2010)
  • Member, Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Governing Committee (2006-2008)
  • Civil & Small Claims Advisory Committee (Chair, 2006 - 2008; Member, 1998-2005)
  • Member, Judicial Service Advisory Committee (2002- 2005)

Los Angeles Superior Court

  • Chair, Executive Officer Selection Committee (2013)
  • Chair, Civil Education Committee (2013 -2014)
  • Chair, Executive Committee (2011-2012)
  • Chair, Personnel & Budget Committee (2009-2010)
  • Chair, Bench/Bar Committee (2009-2010)
  • Chair, Political Outreach Committee (2005-2008)
  • Chair, Civil & Small Claims Committee (2007-2008)
  • Member, Education Governance Committee (2005-2008)
  • Member, Legislative Outreach Committee (2001-2004)
  • Member, Bench and Bar Committee (2001- 2006)
  • Chair, Annual Legislative Seminar (2001, 2006, 2007)
  • Member, Court Commissioner Selection Committee (2003, 2006)

California Judges Association

  • Member, Board of Directors (2013-2014)
  • Member, Civil Law & Procedure Committee (2003-2008)
  • Member, Government Relations Committee (2010-2014)
  • Member, Planning Committee for CJA Mid-Year Meeting (2004)

National Conference of Metropolitan Courts

  • Member, Board of Directors (2011-2012)

County Law Library

  • Board of Trustees (2004-2009; 2013- 2014)

Awards and Honors:

  • University of Illinois College of Law Alumnus of the Year (2004-2005)
  • Alfred J. McCourtney Trial Judge of the Year, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (2005)
  • Ernestine Stahlhut Award, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (2008)
  • Metropolitan News-Enterprise Person of the Year (2009)
  • Emil Gumpert Judicial Services Award, Dispute Resolution Services (2009)
  • Judge of the Year Award, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel (2009)
  • Judge of the Year Award, American Board of Trial Advocates, LA Chapter (2009)
  • Trailblazer of the Bar Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Senior Lawyers Section (2011)
  • Commitment Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association Domestic Violence Project (2011)
  • Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award, California Women Lawyers (2011)
  • Ethel Levitt Award for Humanitarian Service, Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center (2011)
  • Maynard Toll Award for Distinguished Public Service (2011)
  • Justice Award, Los Angeles Center for Law & Justice (2012)
  • Joan Dempsey Klein Distinguished Jurist Award, California Women Lawyers (2012)
  • Judge of the Year, Armenian Bar Association (2012)
  • Benjamin Aranda III Judge of the Year Award, Mexican American Bar Association (2012)
  • Beacon of Justice Award, Friends of the LA Law Library (2013)
  • Diana P. Scott Integrity in Action Award, Greenberg Traurig Business Women's Forum (2013)
  • Outstanding Jurist Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association (2013)

Personal:

Judge Edmon's husband, Dick Burdge, is a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court. They have four daughters, Kristin, Lindsay, Maggie and Kelly.