Case Manager: Christie Woo
Hon. Barbara R. Johnson retired from the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2020 after 27 years on the bench. She enjoyed a distinguished judicial career as a respected trial judge with an uncompromising approach to legal adjudication, with assignments in Probate, the Appellate Division, and the Criminal Department. Her lifelong commitment to promoting justice and making decisions based on fairness and reason now extend to her work as a Mediator, Arbitrator, Referee, and Private Judge with ADR Services, Inc.
For the last several years of her judicial career, Judge Johnson served in a Probate Court assignment, drawing upon her prior experience as a probate lawyer to oversee a wide range of matters, including breach of fiduciary duty, contested conservatorships, contested guardianships, trust and estate accounting disputes, contested real property transfers, trust contests, trust administration disputes, and will contests. She presided over pretrials, trials, and the fees, accountings, motions, and discovery associated therewith. In addition, she participated in numerous settlement conferences and was instrumental in helping the parties negotiate mutually beneficial agreements for the resolution of their disputes.
Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Johnson began her legal career as a sole practitioner handling probate, family law, landlord tenant, and criminal matters. She then joined the City of Inglewood as a Deputy City Attorney and later as an Assistant City Attorney. She remained there until her appointment to the bench in 1993.
Judge Johnson is a graduate of Yale University and California Western School of Law.
Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 2000-2020
Judge of the Municipal Court of California, County of Los Angeles 1993-2000
Inglewood City Attorney’s Office 1985-1993
Private Practice, Inglewood, California 1980-1985
“Five stars does not fully express the effectiveness of this mediator.”
“One of the best mediators I’ve ever worked with. I would recommend her for any cases that are long-standing and seem like they’ll never settle. She somehow had a way of breaking through extraordinarily difficult dynamics between parties…she made herself available so she could understand what the facts and the dynamics were of the case before we even started our session, and I think that made a world of difference.”
“I have a particular problem with mediators that spend the initial three to four hours of the mediation trying to understand what the facts are. But she made herself available so she could understand what the facts and the dynamics were of the case before we even started our session, and I think that made a world of difference.”
“That was the first time I’ve had a mediator a month later jump back on the phone, start calling both sides and help to make sure the agreement in principle we reached during the mediation session was actually turned into an official settlement agreement.”
“In my case, she really emphasized the downside of going to trial. A lot of clients don’t realize how costly it is, and she really explained the idea that we were there to save money. Having somebody who has actually dealt with these disputes in the actual court settings is very helpful. It helps clients get on board with the process and helps them listen to a mediator when potential holes in your case or potential issues with the evidence are pointed out.”
“She had a very laid-back approach, but there was always method to her madness. She knew what she was doing. She disarmed everybody, made them feel comfortable, but she was smart. Everything she did she was doing for a reason. ”
“Judge Barbara Johnson is one of the best mediators I’ve ever worked with. I would recommend her for any cases that are long-standing and seem like they’ll never settle. Judge Johnson somehow had a way of breaking through extraordinarily difficult dynamics between parties. The work she did before the day of mediation over the phone was a big help. I have a particular problem with mediators that spend the initial three to four hours of the mediation trying to understand what the facts are. But she made herself available so she could understand what the facts and the dynamics were of the case before we even started our session, and I think that made a world of difference.”
“Judge Johnson not only managed to get a recent case settled on the day of mediation, but she helped put out some lingering fires threatening the deal long after the initial session wrapped up. That was the first time I’ve had a mediator a month later jump back on the phone, start calling both sides and help to make sure the agreement in principle we reached during the mediation session was actually turned into an official settlement agreement. Her extensive experience on the bench carried a great deal of weight during the mediation. In my case, she really emphasized the downside of going to trial. A lot of clients don’t realize how costly it is, and she really explained the idea that we were there to save money. Having somebody who has actually dealt with these disputes in the actual court settings is very helpful. It helps clients get on board with the process and helps them listen to a mediator when potential holes in your case or potential issues with the evidence are pointed out.”
“Judge Johnson thoroughly understood the case and was terrific with both clients and the lawyers. She had a very laid-back approach, but there was always method to her madness. She knew what she was doing. She disarmed everybody, made them feel comfortable, but she was smart. Everything she did she was doing for a reason.”
“I really thought this was one of those cases where you go through the motions, and at the end of the day there is no settlement, but to my surprise, Judge Johnson worked some magic.”
