James D. Ward

James D. Ward is an Associate Justice for the Court of Appeal in the Fourth Appellate District, Division Two. He was appointed to this position by Governor Wilson on April 24, 1996, succeeding the retired Justice Dabney. His appointment was confirmed by the electorate on November 3, 1998.

Before this, he served as a Judge for the Superior Court in Riverside County. He was appointed to this role by Governor Wilson on November 29, 1993, succeeding the retired Judge Ronald T. Deissler. He took his oath on December 27, 1993, and was elected unopposed in 1994.

Prior to his judicial appointments, Ward had a private law practice in Riverside, California from 1964 to 1993. He was a partner at Thompson and Colegate from 1964 to 1993, and at Badger, Schulte & Ward from 1961 to 1964. He also served as a Deputy District Attorney in Riverside County from 1960 to 1961.

Ward has been a member of the California Judges Association since 1993 and has held various positions in other organizations. He was the Chair of the Public Information and Education Committee from 1995 to 1996, and the President of the Citizens University Committee from 1995 to 1997. He is also a co-founder and Chair of UCR Law, an organization promoting the creation of a law school at the University of California, Riverside.

He has received numerous awards, including the Jurist of the Year Award from the Judicial Council of California in 2003, and the Pride in the Profession Award from the State Bar of California in the same year.

Ward has also been involved in teaching and has written several publications. He served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Riverside, and the University of La Verne College of Law. He has authored several legal articles and non-legal articles.

In terms of his military experience, Ward served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1960, rising from the rank of private to First Sergeant. He also served in the Reserve from 1960 to 1965.

Ward holds a J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School and a B.A. in History from the University of South Dakota. He was born on September 8, 1935, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is married with three children and two grandchildren.

In his spare time, Ward enjoys walking, hiking, playing golf, skiing, and sailing. He was admitted to the California Bar on January 9, 1960, and to the U.S. Supreme Court on May 14, 1979, where he argued and won two cases.

Ward is a Republican and a member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church.