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I am admitted to practice in all California state and federal courts, including the 9th Circuit. I have briefed and argued cases in every appellate district in California, in the California Supreme Court and in all of the appellate courts of the State of Massachusetts. I am admitted to the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. I have been named a "Northern California Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics and San Francisco magazines annually since 2009. I have also been listed in "Best Lawyers in America" every year since 2009. I am certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in appellate law, and I am a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
My professional background is varied, extending from practice with large law firms in California and Massachusetts to my present single-person firm. I have chaired the California State Bar Committee on Appellate Courts, and I have been an advisor to U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law Moot Court Board |
Education
Boalt Hall School of Law University of California, Berkeley
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J.D., 1987
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HONORS: ASSOCIATE EDITOR, CALIFORNIA LAW REVIEW; AMJUR AWARD, CIVIL PROCEDURE. CLASS RANK: TOP 20% |
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University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois
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M.A., 1982
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HONORS: FULL FELLOWSHIP 1980-83. CLASS RANK: TOP 5% |
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Whitman College Walla Walla, Washington
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B.A., 1979
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HONORS: GRADUATED SUMMA CUM LAUDE, WITH HONORS IN MAJOR SUBJECTS (POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ENGLISH); PHI BETA KAPPA. CLASS RANK: 4TH OF 320 |
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Prior Professional Experience
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro San Francisco, California
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7/92-5/96
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ASSOCIATE IN APPELLATE GROUP; DUTIES INCLUDE HANDLING OF ALL ASPECTS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL APPEALS AND ORIGINAL APPELLATE PROCEEDINGS, AS WELL AS COMPLEX LAW AND MOTION MATTERS AND GENERAL REPRESENTATION OF BUSINESS CLIENTS IN TRIAL-LEVEL MATTERS |
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Burns & Levinson Boston, Massachusetts
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10/90-3/92
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ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY; DUTIES INCLUDED HANDLING ALL APPEALS ARISING OUT OF FIRM’S GENERAL TRIAL PRACTICE, AS WELL AS HANDLING INSURANCE COVERAGE DEFENSE LITIGATION AT THE TRIAL LEVEL |
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Posternak, Blankstein & Lund Boston, Massachusetts
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10/89-9/90
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ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY; DUTIES INCLUDED HANDLING ALL ASPECTS OF LITIGATION, PRIMARILY IN INSURANCE DEFENSE |
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Pillsbury Madison & Sutro San Francisco, California
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11/87-10/89
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ASSOCIATE IN APPELLATE GROUP; DUTIES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE |
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Publications
CO-AUTHOR, “JUDICIAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS” IN CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND LAND USE PRACTICE (K. MANASTER & D. SELMI, EDS., 1989) |
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CO-AUTHOR, “DNA TEST RELIABILITY TURNS ON DEMOGRAPHICS,” THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL, MONDAY OCT. 10, 1994, AT P. A21 |
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Professional Activities
Named to "Best Lawyers In America," 2009-2018
Named a "Northern California Superlawyer," 2005-2006, 2009-2017
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CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON APPELLATE COURTS, STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA, 2000-2001; VICE CHAIR, 1999-2000 |
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PRACTITIONER-ADVISOR TO MOOT COURT BOARD, BOALT HALL SCHOOL OF LAW, 1998 -2001 |
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Bar Admissions
CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER, 1987 |
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MASSACHUSETTS, JUNE, 1990 |
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UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, NOVEMBER, 1993 |
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References Available Upon Request
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Overview Joseph A. Hearst, Appellate Attorney
Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Since 1990
Member, California Academy of Appellate Lawyers Since 2003
Named to "The Best Lawyers In America" Every Year Since 2009
Named a Northern California “Super Lawyer” Every Year Since 2009 and in 2005-2006 by Law & Politics and San Francisco magazines |
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