Apr 1, 2025
Appellate Justice Thomas M. Goethals (Ret.) Joins ADR Services, Inc.
Hon. Thomas M. Goethals (Ret.) brings a wealth of experience, insight, and professionalism to his work as a dispute resolution neutral. Over nearly five decades, he has served as a trial lawyer, criminal prosecutor, Superior Court judge, and appellate justice. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep understanding of the complexities of both civil and criminal law, earning a reputation for fairness, integrity, and the ability to guide parties toward resolution. Justice Goethals has earned a reputation as a principled and pragmatic decision-maker. His extensive experience in trial litigation, combined with his judicial leadership, makes him uniquely qualified to assist parties in navigating mutually beneficial outcomes through mediation and arbitration.
Justice Goethals’ legal career began as a law clerk and civil litigator at Keesal, Young & Logan. He later joined the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted a broad spectrum of criminal cases over the course of more than a decade. As a trial prosecutor, he became highly skilled in courtroom advocacy, frequently handling high-profile and high-stakes matters requiring sound judgment under intense scrutiny. His experience prosecuting and managing high-profile cases deepened his commitment to preserving the integrity of the legal system.
Seeking to expand his expertise, Justice Goethals entered civil litigation at Robinson & Robinson (now Robinson Calcagnie), where he represented plaintiffs in complex personal injury cases. This experience broadened his perspective on mediation and settlement dynamics, deepening his appreciation for the nuanced negotiations that lead to fair and efficient case resolutions. He later became a partner at the boutique firm Pohlson, Moorhead, and Goethals, where he handled both criminal and civil matters. During his 24 years as a trial attorney at the DA’s office and in private practice, he tried nearly 200 jury cases to verdict and mediated and arbitrated many others in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, business disputes, probate, and professional liability.
In 2002, Justice Goethals was appointed to the Superior Court of California, where he presided over approximately 300 jury trials. His approach to the bench emphasized preparation, respect for the legal process, and the importance of helping parties reach a resolution that aligned with the evidence. His decisions often demonstrated a keen understanding of the challenges faced by both sides of a dispute, fostering an environment where disputes could be resolved efficiently and equitably.
In 2017, Governor Jerry Brown nominated Justice Goethals to the California Court of Appeal, where he authored more than 500 opinions addressing a wide array of civil and criminal matters. His expertise was recognized with the State Bar’s highest rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified,” and his nomination was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments. His appellate tenure further sharpened his ability to analyze intricate legal issues and balance competing interests—an invaluable skillset in his mediation and arbitration practice.
Justice Goethals has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the legal field. His decisions in high-profile criminal cases have been the subject of editorials in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post. He was named one of Orange County’s most influential people by the Orange County Register and Coast Magazine in 2015 and has been honored with the Justice of the Year award from the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County and the Distinguished Orange County Alumnus Award from Loyola Law School.
Justice Goethals’ core values—respect for the legal process, faith in the justice system, preparation, and empathy, coupled with his extensive experience and ability to foster trust and cooperation—continue to guide his work in dispute resolution.