Commissioner Josanna Berkow (Ret.)
Commissioner Josanna Berkow (Ret.)
In 2013 Commissioner Berkow retired from the bench of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County, where she presided in various departments of the Family Law Division of the Superior Court for over 20 years, deciding tens of thousands of cases involving child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, marital property and debt division, paternity, and domestic violence. She moved to New York in 2014 where she is now admitted to the New York bar currently doing pro bono work through the New York State Bar's Attorney Emeritus program. However, Commissioner Berkow also continues her Bay Area practice serving as a temporary judge reviewing uncontested judgments. Working with Danville paralegal Karen Olson, Commissioner Berkow reviews and Ms. Olson files most judgments in under one week's time for a flat fee of $700.00. Commissioner Berkow also continues on the faculty of JFKU College of Law teaching seminars in family law forensics and other topics critical to a practice involving children and families.
In 2013 Commissioner Berkow retired from the bench of the Superior Court of Contra Costa County, where she presided in various departments of the Family Law Division of the Superior Court for over 20 years, deciding tens of thousands of cases involving child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, marital property and debt division, paternity, and domestic violence. She moved to New York in 2014 where she is now admitted to the New York bar currently doing pro bono work through the New York State Bar's Attorney Emeritus program. However, Commissioner Berkow also continues her Bay Area practice serving as a temporary judge reviewing uncontested judgments. Working with Danville paralegal Karen Olson, Commissioner Berkow reviews and Ms. Olson files most judgments in under one week's time for a flat fee of $700.00. Commissioner Berkow also continues on the faculty of JFKU College of Law teaching seminars in family law forensics and other topics critical to a practice involving children and families.
Education and Honors:
Education and Honors:
Co-Author, Family Law Forms (2011) Rutter Group, a Division of West, a Thomson Reuters business Family Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California since 1996 Member, California Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Family & Juvenile Law 1998 – 2000 Member, California Judicial Council Family Law Education Committee, 2000 – 2004 California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Family Law Institute, 1996 – 2004 California Judges Association, Family Law Committee 2005 –present Chair, Contra Costa County Advisory Council Against Domestic Violence (ACAD) 1995 – 2003 Member, Contra Costa Superior Court Training Committee, 1998 – 2007, 2011 - present Member, Contra Costa Superior Court Strategic Planning Committee, 1999 – 2002 Chair, Art in the Courthouse (non-profit dedicated to the display of fine art in court) 2004- present Contra Costa County Bar Association Pro Bono Award, 2001 and 2003 Outstanding Employer of the Year Award, Golden Gate University School of Law, 2001and 2003 Member of the Board, Kid’s Turn, 2006 – 2009 Advisor, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Uniform Law Commission, 1984 Advisor, Judicial Council Family Law Committee on Child Support Guidelines, 1983-84 Chair, California Family Support Council Inter-jurisdictional Cooperation Committee Chair, Sacramento Family Support Commission, 1983-84 University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1977 American Jurisprudence Award for Advanced Criminal Procedure, 1976 Golden Gate University School of Law, 1975-76 Towson (Maryland) State University B.S. cum laude, Sociology, 1974
Co-Author, Family Law Forms (2011) Rutter Group, a Division of West, a Thomson Reuters business Family Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California since 1996 Member, California Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Family & Juvenile Law 1998 – 2000 Member, California Judicial Council Family Law Education Committee, 2000 – 2004 California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Family Law Institute, 1996 – 2004 California Judges Association, Family Law Committee 2005 –present Chair, Contra Costa County Advisory Council Against Domestic Violence (ACAD) 1995 – 2003 Member, Contra Costa Superior Court Training Committee, 1998 – 2007, 2011 - present Member, Contra Costa Superior Court Strategic Planning Committee, 1999 – 2002 Chair, Art in the Courthouse (non-profit dedicated to the display of fine art in court) 2004- present Contra Costa County Bar Association Pro Bono Award, 2001 and 2003 Outstanding Employer of the Year Award, Golden Gate University School of Law, 2001and 2003 Member of the Board, Kid’s Turn, 2006 – 2009 Advisor, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, Uniform Law Commission, 1984 Advisor, Judicial Council Family Law Committee on Child Support Guidelines, 1983-84 Chair, California Family Support Council Inter-jurisdictional Cooperation Committee Chair, Sacramento Family Support Commission, 1983-84 University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 1977 American Jurisprudence Award for Advanced Criminal Procedure, 1976 Golden Gate University School of Law, 1975-76 Towson (Maryland) State University B.S. cum laude, Sociology, 1974
Pre-Bench Legal Experience:
Pre-Bench Legal Experience:
California Deputy Attorney General, San Francisco, Criminal Appeals & Statewide Coordinator: Child Support and Child Abduction, 1985-92 Federal Labor Relations Authority, San Francisco, Staff Attorney and Hearing Officer, 1978-85 Staff Counsel to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (Maryland), 1977-78
California Deputy Attorney General, San Francisco, Criminal Appeals & Statewide Coordinator: Child Support and Child Abduction, 1985-92 Federal Labor Relations Authority, San Francisco, Staff Attorney and Hearing Officer, 1978-85 Staff Counsel to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (Maryland), 1977-78
Faculty:
Faculty:
Adjunct Professor (Jurisprudence & Family Law) John F. Kennedy University College of Law 2009- present, Faculty Advisor for the Children, Families & the Law Program, Adjunct Professor (Alternative Dispute Resolution for Children & Families) Golden Gate University School of Law, California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Family Law Institute, 1994-2011 State Bar of California 1995, 2005, 2007-8 Contra Costa County Bar Association 1993 – 2012 Witkin Judicial College, Complex Custody Litigation 2003 - 2006 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2004 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Symposium 2000 & 2005 East Bay California Certified Public Accountant’s Association, East Bay Chapter, 1997 – 2001 ABA: Interstate Enforcement of Family Support, 1991 & Nat’l Leadership Conference on Child Support 1990 California Family Support Council, 1987-91.
Adjunct Professor (Jurisprudence & Family Law) John F. Kennedy University College of Law 2009- present, Faculty Advisor for the Children, Families & the Law Program, Adjunct Professor (Alternative Dispute Resolution for Children & Families) Golden Gate University School of Law, California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER) Family Law Institute, 1994-2011 State Bar of California 1995, 2005, 2007-8 Contra Costa County Bar Association 1993 – 2012 Witkin Judicial College, Complex Custody Litigation 2003 - 2006 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 2004 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Symposium 2000 & 2005 East Bay California Certified Public Accountant’s Association, East Bay Chapter, 1997 – 2001 ABA: Interstate Enforcement of Family Support, 1991 & Nat’l Leadership Conference on Child Support 1990 California Family Support Council, 1987-91.