Judge John W. Holcomb on The Judge’s Role in the Adversary System

The judge’s role is straightforward when parties are represented by skilled advocates. When parties are not well represented, the judge’s role becomes less clearly defined. To what extent should a court do its own legal research, review a factual record, or generously interpret a party’s argument so that a case is presented and adjudicated on its merits? Is it appropriate to steer a lawyer or give hints? Where should the line be drawn—and at what point would a judge’s participation be inconsistent with his or her role in the adversary system?

Please join us as we welcome Judge John Holcomb to speak on the judge's role in the adversary system. 

When: Wednesday, July 12, 11:45 a.m. (registration), 12:00 p.m. (lunch)

Where: First Floor Conference Room, 2040 Main Street, 1st Floor, Irvine, CA. Please get your parking ticket validated in the lobby before or after entering the venue.

Cost: $30/members, $35/non-members, $10/students, for lunch and 1 hour of MCLE credit (the Federalist Society is a California State Bar approved provider of MCLE).

RSVP and Pay: To RSVP and pay by credit card, please register at the Federalist Society site here.

Judge John W. Holcomb

About Judge Holcomb: 

John William Holcomb is a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

After receiving his JD–MBA, he served as a law clerk to Judge Ronald Barliant of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 to 1997, he was an associate with Irell & Manella. He practiced intellectual property law at Knobbe Martens from 1997 to 2018. In 2019 he was briefly a sole practitioner, before joining Greenberg Gross in Costa Mesa, California, where he focused on intellectual property and bankruptcy litigation. He left Greenberg Gross after becoming a federal judge.

The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination and he received his judicial commission in September 2020, filling the seat left by Judge Dean Pregerson. 

Prior to his law career Judge Holcomb served in the United States Navy from 1980 to 1989, and he was on active duty as a commissioned officer from 1984 to 1989. His service included time as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62).