First Admitted: 1986, California

Bar/Professional Activity:

Program Chair, Orange County Bar Association, 1993
U.S. Supreme Court, 1990
Member, California Advisory Commission, United States Commission on Civil Rights, 2007 - 2014
Delegates, Ethics and Professionalism Task Force
Chair, Orange County Bar Association, Appellate Section, 1994
California, 1986
U.S. Court of Appeals for 9th Circuit
Member, Board of Directors, Orange County Bar Association, 1996 - 2002
Judiciary Committee Task Force
U.S. Court of Appeals for 7th Circuit
Chairman, Committee of Bar Examiners, State Bar of California
President, Orange County Barristers, 1996

Representative Clients:

People v. Sanchez (2016) 63 Cal.4th 665. In this landmark case, the California Supreme Court agreed with our arguments that statements a “gang expert” relied on to opine on defendant's gang membership were hearsay, explaining that, when an expert relates case-specific out-of-court statements and treats the content of those statements as true to support expert's opinion, the statements are admitted for their truth; and if they are testimonial, there is a potential Confrontation Clause violation., 2016
Adoption of Joshua S., 42 Cal.4th 945, 2008
Jeff Tracy, Inc. v. City of Pico Rivera (2015) 240 Cal. App. 4th 510. The Court of Appeal agreed our contractor client was entitled to a jury trial on a licensure issue, reversing a $5,487,370.05 judgment., 2015
In re Santos Y., 92 Cal.App.4th 1274, 2001
In re Charlotte D., 45 Cal.4th 1140, 2009
In re Bridget R., 41 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1996
In re Marriage of Samson, 197 Cal.App.4th 23, 2011
In re Zacharia D., 6 Cal.4th 435, 1993
In re Marriage of Moschetta, 25 Cal.App.4th 1218, 1994
Frederick v. Superior Court, 223 Cal.App.4th 988, 2014
Johnson v. Calvert, 5 Cal.4th 84, 1993

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Honors/Awards:

Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, Western State University in Fullerton, California
Martindale-Hubbell "AV Preeminent" Rating
Editorial Board Member, Staff Writer, Law Review, Western State University in Fullerton, California
Top Attorney in Orange County by Orange Coast Magazine
"Best Oralist" Award in Moot Court, Western State University in Fullerton, California
American Jurisprudence Awards in Property Law and Criminal Procedure, Western State University in Fullerton, California
Southern California by Los Angeles Magazine

Educational Background:

University of California at Davis, B.S. in Law
Downing College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, International Law and Legal History

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Book Review: Takings, Private Property and the Power of Eminent Domain, 14 Western State University Law Review 639, 1987
Note: People v. Ruggles: The Ruggles, Robbins, Ross Roundabout, 13 Western State University Law Review 641, 1986
Co-Author, Federalist Society White Paper, The Case for Judicial Appointments, 1993
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Orange County Barristers
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Orange County Bar Association, College of Appellate Advocacy
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Orange County Bar Association, Appellate Section
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, California Academy of Adoption Lawyers
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, American Association of Adoption Attorneys
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, California Association of Appellate Defense Counsel
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Chapman University School of Law
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Simon Greenleaf (now Trinity) School of Law
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Western Orange County Bar Association
Continuing Legal Education Speaker, Newport Harbor Bar Association
Benefits of OCBA Section Membership, Orange County Lawyer, November 1994
Parental Rights Primer, Orange County Lawyer, May 1994

John L. Dodd