BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES V. SELNA
Born: February 22, 1945, Santa Clara, California.
Education: Stanford Law School, J.D. 1970 (Article and
Book Review Editor, Law Review 1968-70), Order of the Coif; Stanford
University, A.B. 1967 (With Distinction) , Phi Beta Kappa.
Judicial Experience:
Superior Court of the State of California for the County of
Orange, appointed December 31, 1998. Assignments:
Long-Cause Civil Trial Team, Jan.–Mar., 1999.
North Panel (Criminal), Mar. 1999– Apr. 2000.
Civil Panel (Limited Jurisdiction), Apr. 2000–Aug. 2001.
Civil Panel (General Jurisdiction), Aug. 2001–June 2002.
Civil Complex Panel, June 2002–April 2003
United States District Court, Central District of California
Nominated, January 29, 2003
Confirmed, March 27, 2003
Oath of Office, April 30, 2003
Professional Experience: Associate, O’Melveny & Myers
LLP, 1970-77; Partner, 1978-98 (Los Angeles, 1970-1983; Newport
Beach, 1983-98), complex civil litigation. Major litigations: Memorex
v. IBM, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission v. National
Football League (“Raiders Case”), Trans Alaska Pipeline Tariff
Proceeding, Exxon Valdez.
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Bar Activities: Member, California State Bar Standing
Committee on Federal Courts (1982-85); Member, Executive
Committee, California State Bar Litigation Section (1986-89); Member,
Executive Committee, California State Bar Antitrust Section (1992-95),
Advisor (1995 ); Member, Executive Committee, Los Angeles County
Bar Antitrust Section (1981-82, 1983-84); Member, Board of Directors,
Orange County Federal Bar Association (1991-92).
Speaking Engagements: Faculty Member, Columbia Law
School, Trial of an Antitrust Case (1982); Faculty Member, Practising
Law Institute Program on Litigating Antitrust Case; Speaker, Federal
Trade Commission Distinguished Speaker Series (1982); Speaker, CEB
Competitive Business Practices Institute (1984-87, 1991); Speaker, CEB
Program, “Appellate Review Before Judgment” (1985); Speaker,
ALI-ABA Conference on Museum Law (1991); Chair, CEB Program,
“Protecting Trade Secrets” (1992, 1995); Speaker, CEB Program,
“Protecting Trade Secrets Before and During Litigation” (1997); Chair,
CEB Program, “Proof in Competitive Business Practices Cases” (1997);
Speaker, CEB Program, “Advanced Course of Study: Federal Practice”
(1999).
Other Professional & Community Activities: Member,
National Panel (1984-98), Large Complex Case Panel, American
Arbitration Association (1993-98); Board of Trustees, Orange County
Museum of Art, Vice-Chairman (1996-2000), Emeritus, 2000–; Board of
Trustees, Newport Harbor Art Museum (1985-93, 1994-96), President
(1994–96), Vice President (1988-90), Secretary and General Counsel
(1991-93); Member, Board of Directors, Orange County Business
Committee for the Arts (1988-98); Member, Board of Directors, Phoenix
House (1983-85).
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