The Judge John C. Gutierrez' Story

By John C. Gutierrez

Judge John C. Gutierrez is an experienced Administrative Law Judge in Workers' Compensation Court. He has handled hundreds of cases and several of his opinions have been affirmed by the California Courts of Appeal.

Judge Gutierrez and Rita have been married for 19 years and live in the San Fernando Valley with their two children, Brian and Lauren. Both their children have acquired a public education from the Los Angeles Unified School District. Brian graduated from Sylmar High School and Lauren attends Granada Hills Charter High School. Brian is currently attending classes at Los Angeles Mission College. Rita is employed by the Los Angeles Unified School District, in the Special Education Department, and enjoys working with children at the elementary level.

Judge Gutierrez' 21 years legal experience include 11 years on the bench as a Judge. As a Judge, he presided four years in Pomona, one year in San Bernardino, and is currently assigned to the Van Nuys District. He is a graduate of San Fernando Valley College of Law and the University of Texas at Austin. As a law student, Judge Gutierrez participated in a legal aid clinic helping the elderly and the poor with issues such as social security benefits.

In addition to his extensive experience in Workers' Compensation proceedings, Judge Gutierrez began his legal career in the County of Los Angeles as a Deputy District Attorney, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. In 1984 he went into private practice and represented clients in both criminal and civil matters. His civil clients included the Catholic Order of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.

Judge Gutierrez began specializing in Workers' Compensation in 1985 and became Staff Counsel for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and later House Counsel for Industrial Indemnity Insurance Company.

Judge Gutierrez' breadth of experience in representing the People of the State of California as a Deputy District Attorney, as a criminal defense attorney, as defense counsel representing insurance companies and as an attorney representing injured workers, led to his appointment as a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge on May 3, 1993.

Judge Gutierrez will apply his balanced experience of representing both sides as an attorney, and as a judge to a wider range of cases, including criminal and civil matters. He will continue to follow his practice of weighing the evidence thoroughly and of applying the law with fairness and impartiality based on the facts and circumstances of each individual case.

PLEASE VOTE FOR JUDGE GUTIERREZ OFFICE 52 ON NOVEMBER 2, 2004