Hon. Maria Rivera (Ret.) joined ADR Services, Inc. in 2018 after spending over two decades on the Courts, where she earned a reputation for being a highly accomplished, intelligent, and fair jurist.


Justice Rivera attended law school as a scholarship student, and spent her summers in work-study programs at the San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation (now Bay Area Legal Aid). She also completed an externship with California Supreme Court Justice Raymond Sullivan. After graduating first in her class, she went on to work at Morrison & Foerster for three years to develop commercial litigation experience. Thereafter, she worked in the Consumer Fraud Division of the District Attorney’s office and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in San Francisco before returning to private practice. Ultimately, she became a partner, and later of counsel at McCutchen Doyle Brown & Enersen.

Inspired by her dedication to community service and commitment to improving access to justice, Justice Rivera ran for and was elected to an open seat on the Contra Costa County Superior Court in 1996. As a Judge, Justice Rivera held assignments in the General Trial Department, Family Law, and the Civil Fast Track Division, where she adjudicated hundreds of matters in law and motion, presented by demurrer, motions to dismiss, motions to strike, Anti-SLAPP motions, and scores of motions for summary judgment and summary adjudication. She was appointed to the California Court of Appeal in 2002.

As a recipient of numerous awards and accolades commemorating her staunch dedication and commitment to improving access to justice for all, Justice Rivera has been recognized throughout her legal career for her unwavering support of legal services throughout California. In addition to her long-standing devotion to serving the community, Justice Rivera enjoys a reputation for having a strong legal mind and for actively settling her cases as a trial judge. She is known to be a fair jurist who is well-versed in the law and has an exceptional depth and breadth of legal expertise.


JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

CALIFORNIA COURT OF APPEAL, San Francisco, CA
Associate Justice, First Appellate District, Division Four, 2002-2018

  • Appointed by Governor Gray Davis
  • Confirmed and sworn in January 25, 2002


SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Martinez, CA
Judge of the Superior Court, 1996-2002

  • Civil Division (Single Assignment), 2000-2001
  • Chair of Family Law Building Committee, 1997-2001
  • Executive Committee, 1997-1999
  • Supervising Judge, Family Law Division, 1997-1999
  • General Trial Department (Felony Trials), 1997



EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO LAW SCHOOL, San Francisco, CA
J.D., magna cum laude, 1974

  • Recorder Prize (graduated first in class)
  • Full academic scholarship, 1972-1974
  • McAuliffe Honor Society, 1972-1974


SMITH COLLEGE, Northampton, MA
B.A. with distinction, 1970

  • Graduated as First Group Scholar
  • Dean’s List 1967-1970
  • Academic scholarships (four years)
  • Major in Hispanic Studies, Minor in Psychology
  • Junior year abroad in Madrid, Spain
    ​

STRAUS INSTITUTE FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY, Malibu, CA
Certificate of Completion, “Mediating the Litigated Case”, 2018

  • Completed 42 hours of mediation training 


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MCCUTCHEN DOYLE BROWN & ENERSEN (formerly Van Voorhis & Skaggs), Partner, Counsel, 1981-1996
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1979-1981
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, Deputy District Attorney, 1978-1979
MORRISON & FOERSTER, Associate, 1974-1978
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT, Extern to the Honorable Raymond Sullivan, Fall 1973
SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION, Law Clerk, 1972, 1973


HONORS AND AWARDS


DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, Judicial Council, 2015
JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD, East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association, 2013
TARA RIEDLEY BARRISTERS’ CHOICE AWARD, Bar Association of San Francisco, 2012
LEADERSHIP AWARD, California Latino Judges Association, 2012
BENJAMIN ARANDA III ACCESS TO JUSTICE AWARD, Judicial Council, California State Bar, 2011
ALUMNA OF THE YEAR, University of San Francisco Law School, 2010
DISTINGUISHED JUSTICE AWARD, San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, 2002
TRIAL JUDGE OF THE YEAR, Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers’ Association, 2001
PRO BONO JUDGE OF THE YEAR, 1999



PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • University of San Francisco School of Law, Board of Governors, 2002-2005 
    University of San Francisco School of Law, Board of Counselors, 2016-Present
    Hispanic National Bar Association, Judicial Section, 2005-2010
    California Latino Judges Association, 2004-2018
    California Judges Association, 1996-Present
    National Association of Women Judges, 1996-2018
    Federal-State Judicial Council, 2001-2006
    Contra Costa County Bar Association, 1981-1996
    State Bar of California, 1974-1996
    San Francisco Bar Association, 1974-1978


COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Alameda County Bar Association, East Bay Diversity Bar Coalition, Judicial Mentoring Project, Mentor, 2008-2013
  • Bar Association of San Francisco, Judicial Mentorship Program, Mentor, 2009-2013
  • Wardrobe for Opportunity, Advisory Board Member, 1998-2008
  • Invest in Kids, Advisory Board Member, 1996-2007
  • Latino Leadership Forum, Advisory Board Member, 1997-2002
  • Center for Human Development, Advisory Board Member, 1997-2001

Resume

HON. MARIA P. RIVERA (RET.)

First District Court of Appeal

Hon. Maria P. Rivera  (Ret.)​
First District Court of Appeal

  • Mediator

  • Arbitrator

  • Discovery Referee

  • Appellate Consultant