Hon. Angel M. Bermudez ’88 (Ret.) has joined the panel of JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide. Bermudez joins with more than 18 years of service on the Riverside County Superior Court, where he spent the majority of his tenure presiding over civil matters.

During his nine years on the civil bench with the Riverside County Superior Court, Bermudez handled complex disputes involving product liability, catastrophic personal injury, business and contract matters, professional negligence and real property. He also served in the family law division, where he oversaw dissolution, custody and financial disputes. Prior to his judicial appointment, Bermudez served as a senior deputy district attorney in Riverside County for 16 years, where he focused on white-collar criminal matters.

Based in the Inland Empire Resolution Center, Bermudez will serve as a mediator, arbitrator, court-appointed neutral (special master/referee) and neutral evaluator, handling personal injury, automotive, animal, business/commercial, employment, family, finance and professional liability matters. He is available to conduct sessions in person, as well as virtually, for clients across the country and internationally. A native Spanish speaker with a university-level Spanish education, he brings additional value to Spanish-speaking parties seeking culturally competent dispute resolution.

“Throughout his judicial and prosecutorial career, Judge Bermudez has been admired for his balanced approach as well as his commitment to civility and fairness,” said Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president. “He is also dedicated to teaching and mentoring others both in and outside of the courtroom. We are pleased to welcome him as he continues this important work at JAMS.”

Deeply committed to mentorship and education, Bermudez founded and served as president of the Southwest American Inn of Court, which will be renamed in his honor this year. He has directed the Judicial Extern Program, in which he mentored law students from leading universities, including Yale, UCLA, USC, Columbia and Pepperdine. He has also taught with Witkin Judicial College and the Temecula Legal Scholars Program. He has received multiple honors, including the Southwest Bar Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and recognition from the California State Assembly for his outstanding service to Riverside County. He was additionally named Prosecutor of the Year by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office in 2005.

“Throughout my many years as a judge and attorney, I have developed a passion for helping clients identify efficient, effective resolutions in high-stakes matters, including in several complex liability, injury and family law cases. I’m excited to share my skill set and experience with clients in my new role, where I will continue to extend access to justice by working toward mutually beneficial outcomes,” said Bermudez.

After receiving his B.A. in English, Bermudez earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1991.