1 Hour MCLE

The Honorable Thomas L. Willhite, Jr. joined ADR Services, Inc. after a distinguished judicial career of more than 30 years, having served on the former Los Angeles Municipal Court, the Los Angeles Superior Court, and the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 4. As a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, besides several criminal law assignments, Justice Willhite presided over a fast-track civil trial court for five years (2000-2005). As an appellate justice (2005-2023), Justice Willhite has authored more than 2,000 opinions in many diverse areas of the law, including asbestos litigation, CEQA, the California Coastal Act, class actions, commercial contract and general business litigation, insurance coverage, consumer law, employment law, and many others.  He now conducts mediations, arbitrations, and references for ADR Services.  Justice Willhite is a frequent MLE presenter. He is fluent in Italian and is a guest lecturer in comparative law and procedure at several Italian universities.   

Patrick M. Kelly is a Mediator, Arbitrator and Special Master with ADR Services having served in many bar, court and law firm positions. Using his insight and experience he has achieved almost a 100% settlement rate in mediations and significant results as an arbitrator and special master. His positions include President of the California State Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar, Dispute Resolution Services, Professional Liability Underwriting Society; Commissioner on the Commission on Judicial Performance, voting Member of the California Judicial Council, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and Western Regional Manager of an international law firm. Pat’s been frequently honored for his service to the community by lifetime achievement awards including: Shattuck-Price Outstanding Lawyer Award, Los Angeles County Bar Association; Southern California Lawyer of the Year (Arbitration), The Best Lawyers in America; Griffin Bell Volunteer Achievement Award, Dispute Resolution Services; Top 100 Lawyers in California, Daily Journal; MetNews Person of the Year, Metropolitan News Enterprise; Diversity Award, State Bar Council on Access and Fairness; Daniel O’Connel Award, The Irish American Bar Association and Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Ski Defense Attorneys. Pat has also been repeatedly recognized by Marquis Who’s Who in American Law, as a Super Lawyer.

With a decade as a trial lawyer in the LA District Attorney’s Office and 25 years on the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Jacqueline Connor (ret) possesses extensive experience that has translated directly into her 12 years of arbitration and mediation. Trying over 200 jury trials as a litigator and handling a myriad of cases from death penalties to medical malpractice, she’s been awarded Judge of the Year multiple times and renowned as a top Mediator and Arbitrator.

Since retiring, she’s engaged full time as a mediator/arbitrator for ADR Services, bringing a unique perspective as a Japanese speaker raised outside the US. Emphasizing alternate dispute resolution as the ideal arena for creative and efficient solutions, she collaborates closely with lawyers and clients to tackle core issues and transforming litigation into a user-friendly format. Judge Connor firmly believes arbitrations empowers parties with more control, addressing legal disputes and underlying issues too often beyond the reach of juries or judges.

Hon. Michelle R. Rosenblatt (Ret.), ADR Services, Inc., serves as a mediator and arbitrator on a wide range of civil disputes including labor and employment, business, professional malpractice, real estate, personal injury/wrongful death and construction since her retirement in 2016 after 23 years on the Los Angeles Superior Court. Judge Rosenblatt also serves as a neutral for discovery references and mock trials, She taught judicial education throughout her career on the bench and is a frequent participant in continuing education programs. Serving for five years as Editor of the California Judges Association magazine, The Bench, she is a contributor to the CLA Labor and Employment Law Review ADR Update. She was awarded Judge of the Year by the San Fernando Valley Bar Association in 2007.  During her last nine years on the court, Judge Rosenblatt presided over a general jurisdiction civil calendar where she facilitated many settlements and presided over numerous jury and bench trials. Judge Rosenblatt has established herself as a neutral with the work ethic, personality, tenacity and ability to resolve cases and to preside over arbitrations that are both factually nuanced and legally complex.  For more information, please visit Judgemrosenblatt.com.