Family Law

Judge in the McCourt Divorce Holds Couple?s Future

By ckramer

It?s become fairly common knowledge that the power couple, Frank and Jamie McCourt, who have run the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2004, are going through a bitter divorce, with the ownership of the team waiting in the balance.

A recent article in the Chicago Tribune has taken a deeper look into the divorce, specifically at the judge presiding over the case. The judge’s demeanor is especially relevant in this case, as many divorce cases, because there will be no jury and the judge will solely determine the outcome.

The judge for the case is Scott Gordon, a former police officer and a man described repeatedly as ?no-nonsense?.

The Tribune article began by describing a telling scene between Judge Gordon and attorney for Frank McCourt, Steve Susman.

Susman is one of the most well respected attorneys in America, and is ranked as one of the top 10 trial lawyers in America.

Susman suggested to Gordon how to number the exhibits for trial, and during the third attempt at explaining the ordering, Gordon cut off Susman.

?You?re from Texas?? Gordon asked. After Susman responded with an affirmative head nod, Gordon continued, ?It?s a fantastic state? The last thing I would do in Texas is tell a Texas judge how to run his court.?

Judge Gordon seems to be a good fit for the trial, as Lynn Sodik, a Santa Monica family law attorney states, ?He?s perfect for this case? He?s very smart. Sometimes it can be hard when you?ve got heavyweight attorneys, some from out of town. [Gordon?s] not intimidated at all.?

Gordon, 54, studied at the Air Force Academy and at Cal State Dominguez Hills and then joined the Santa Monica Police Department in 1977.

Gordon eventually went to law school and graduated from Southwestern Law School in 1985. He then went to a law firm for several years before joining the Los Angeles County district attorney?s office. His areas of expertise was domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault.

Gordon also played a part on the prosecution team in the O.J. Simpson trial. After the trial, Gordon was reportedly disappointed in the system and desired something more meaningful.

After the Simpson trial, Gordon researched and co-wrote a book about eight German terrorists sent to the U.S. by Hitler during World War II.

This led to Gordon working with the United Nations tribunals prosecuting war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Eventually, Gordon secured more than $1.5 million so the tribunal could use computers instead of handwritten notes, and GPS devices to find crime scenes.

In 2002, Gordon became a court commissioner, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him a judge in April.

Gordon made a point to remind the parties that their high-profile doesn?t make their case a high-priority in his courtroom. child custody cases and battered spouse cases carry greater urgency than a case to determine the owner of a baseball team.

Full post as published by The Divorce Blog on September 02, 2010 (boomark / email).