Retired Judge Jonathan Schwartz's judicial experience has made him an effective mediator, arbitrator and special discovery master in civil, family court and probate cases since 2008 when he began his practice with Schwartz Mediation.
Jonathan Schwartz conducted hundreds of settlement conferences while on the bench. He
presided at scores of non-jury trials, over several hundred jury trials, and decided
thousands of motions in civil and family court cases.
Jonathan Schwartz's experience on the bench and in his private mediation/arbitration/ discovery master practice covers a vast array of topics including but not limited to . . .
• commercial disputes
• property valuation
• personal injury
• wrongful death
• insurance bad faith
• contracts
• construction defects
• real estate
• employment
• trade secrets
• business break-ups
• suits against government entities
• title insurance
• medical malpractice
• civil rights
• probate
• division of property in family court matters.
Jonathan Schwartz has consulted on civil cases to assist parties in privately evaluating
their chances of success in court.
Jonathan Schwartz's experience in deciding cases, ruling on motions, selecting juries, and
talking to jurors after verdicts is invaluable in helping parties resolve matters, in
arbitrating their disputes and in fairly, efficiently and economically deciding discovery
disputes.
Jonathan Schwartz was a leader on the bench in the resolution of cases by alternative
methods. He was selected by the Arizona Supreme Court to serve on the Court's
Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and served with distinction in the 1990s.
He received the State Bar of Arizona's Professionalism Award in 1993.
2008-Present - Schwartz Mediation
Mediating, arbitrating and special discovery master work in over 100 matters in civil, family court and probate cases.
2007-Present - Adjunct Professor of Law at Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ArizonaState University teaching a trial practice course - "Lawyering: Theory
and Practice"
2007-2008 Adjunct Professor of Law at The Phoenix School of Law
Taught Administrative Law and Trial Practice.
2008-2010 Arizona Supreme Court
Hearing Officer in Attorney Disciplinary Matters.
2011-Present - Hearing Officer in Legal Document Preparer Matters.
1991-2007 Superior Court Judge, Maricopa County
Three separate assignments to civil calendars for a total of 7 years. Family court
assignment for 2 years. Criminal cases for 5 years and Juvenile Court for 2 years.
1986-1991 Arizona Attorney General's Office, Chief Counsel,
Liability Defense Division
In charge of in-house and outside counsel who were defending the State
of Arizona in personal injury, employment and civil rights litigation in state and federal
court. Represented the State's settlement authority in every court settlement
conference. Presented tentative settlements of over $50,000 for approval to the Joint
Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) of the Arizona Legislature.
1979-1986 Arizona Attorney General's Office.
1984-1986 Assistant Chief Counsel in the Civil Division
In charge of lawyers who represented the Departments of Health Services and Education.
1979-1984 Assistant Attorney General - Organized Crime and Racketeering Division
Prosecutor of white collar crime and organized crime before the State Grand Jury and in jury trials in Superior Court.
1978-1979 Logan & Aguirre
Partner in the law firm handling personal injury cases for
plaintiffs, the defense of criminal cases and family court matters.
1974-1978 Maricopa County Public Defender's Office
Deputy public defender handling hundreds of cases in jury trials.
1973-1974 Arizona Supreme Court
Law clerk to Justice Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr.
Law School - University of Michigan 1970-1973 - J.D.
Undergraduate - University of Pittsburgh 1965-1969 - B.A.
1991-1992 Chairperson - Maricopa Bar Association - Bench-Bar Committee
1993 - Member - State Bar of Arizona - Bench-Bar Committee
1991-1994 Member - State of Arizona Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission
1993 State Bar of Arizona Professionalism Award
