Profile


With nearly 18 years of judicial service, Judge Beeman has presided over a wide variety of civil matters and brings that wealth of experience to his dispute resolution services.  Judge Beeman served as Presiding Judge and Supervising Civil Judge of the Solano County Superior Court, and was the Chairman of the Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for 12 years.  He specializes in settling cases involving personal injury, business, product liability, employment, real estate, construction defect, insurance and professional malpractice matters.

Prior to his years on the bench, Judge Beeman spent over 26 years as a trial lawyer in private practice, where he tried more than 30 civil and criminal jury trials, and arbitrated and mediated more than 150 cases.

ADR Training and Education

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law

  • Advanced Mediation: An Interactive Training Program 2014
  • Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation 2013
  • Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions and Impasse Using Brain Science, Game Theory, Animated Communication, and Micro-Interventions 2011, 2012
  • Tools for Mindful Awareness for Lawyers, Mediators, Negotiators, Judges, Arbitrators, and Managers 2012
  • Mediating in the Red Zone: Closing the Deal in Mediation 2011
  • Advanced Mediation: Skills and Techniques 2010
  • Specialized Mediation: Mediating Employment, Personal Injury, and Professional Liability Cases 2009
  • Improvisational Mediation: A New Model for Mediation 2008
  • Mediating Complex Construction Disputes 2007
  • Mediating the Litigated Case 2004, 2006
  • Mediating the Complex Case: An Emphasis on Process Design, Party Management, and Insurance Coverage 2006
  • Specialized Mediation: Handling Challenging Employment, Medical Malpractice, and Personal Injury Cases 2005

Dr. Mario Patera and Dr. Ulrike Gamm

  • Mediative Leadership Competencies: Module 3 2015
  • Seminar on Mediative Competencies: Module 1 2013

University of California, Berkeley, Extension: Mediation and Conflict Resolution Course 2017

International Academy of Mediators, Spring Conference 2015

Admissions and Licensures

  • United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit 1974
  • United States District Court, Northern District of California 1974
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of California 1973
  • State Bar of California 1973

Organizations and Awards

  • Executive Board Member, California Judges Association 2013-2016
  • Law Day Liberty Bell Award for Leadership and Dedication to the ADR Process, Solano
    County Bar Association 2008
  • Solano County Bar Association Representative, Superior Court Community Focused Planning Committee 1998-2000
  • Member and Chair, City of Vallejo Planning Commission 1997-2000
  • Co-Founder and Participating Member, Lawyers in the Library 1995-2000
  • Board Member, Fighting Back Partnership 2000-2011

Teaching Experience

  • Faculty/Moderator, CEB Courses Regarding Evidence and Discovery. 2014-2015
  • Faculty, Straus Institute, “Mediating The Litigated Case”
    Taught mediation skills to the judiciary and lawyers in Uganda. 2014
  • Co-sponsored Straus Institute training sessions on mediation for Solano County judges and attorneys. 2009-2013
Beeman’s Philosophy
  • All problems have solutions. The question is: how hard are you willing to work in order to find that solution.
  • Mediation is an opportunity to become educated. To listen and to learn.
  • To dig deep and improve your understanding of the facts and problems in your case.
  • To become aware of the strengths and weaknesses of your case, as well as those of your opponent.
  • To identify and address emotions that maybe in the way of resolution.
  • To clearly and dispassionately evaluate evidence, so as to make decisions based on the facts and the law.
  • Compromise is not a “dirty” word, and can bring about a successful resolution.

JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE

Court Leadership:

  • Supervising Civil Judge 2017
  • Presiding Judge 2012-2013
  • Assistant Presiding Judge 2010-2011
  • Supervising Judge, Vallejo Branch Court 2008-2011

Judicial Assignments:

  • Appellate Division 2004-2005, 2016-2017
  • Civil / CEQA 2004-2011, 2014-2017
  • Criminal (Felonies) 2002-2003
  • Juvenile 2000-2001

Court Committees :

  • Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee 2005-2017
  • Member, Court Executive Committee 2008-2013, 2017

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

  • Partner, Law Offices of Beeman & Beeman
    Specialized in personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice and federal tort claims. 1973-2000
  • Legal Clerk (SPC5), United States Army 1969-1971

EDUCATION

  • University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, J.D. 1973
  • California State College at Hayward, B.A., Political Science 1968