Following 15 years of distinguished service to the Superior Court of Riverside County, Judge Evans is taking his knowledge and experience to the private sector as a full-time neutral. During his judicial tenure, he primarily served in the Civil and Criminal Departments, presiding over hundreds of jury trials. Judge Evans spent the last six years of his judicial assignment as a probate judge, overseeing trials involving guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and estates.
Prior to the bench, he enjoyed a successful 29-year career as a civil trial lawyer. His legal acumen was evident as he tried nearly 50 civil cases to verdict or judgment.
Judge Evans is passionate about serving the legal community. For more than a decade, he has taught Torts as an Adjunct Professor at California Desert Trial Academy. As Judge Pro Tem for the Riverside Superior Court, he handled mandatory settlement conferences and volunteered with many local mediation programs. He is also a past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter and the Desert Bar Association.
Judge Evan’s professionalism, dedication, and temperament earned him the Civility Award from ABOTA’s San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter.
- All Types of Personal Injury including Product Liability and Wrongful Death
- Construction Defect
- Elder Abuse
- Insurance
- Probate
In his free time, Judge Evans enjoys surfing and spending time with his family, especially with his eight grandchildren. He is also a skilled sports announcer and was the football announcer for Notre Dame High School from 1977-2001 and for Palm Desert High School from 2003-2011.
- Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2023-Present)
- Judge, Superior Court of Riverside County (2008-2023); Primarily served in the Civil and Criminal Departments and served most recently for six years in Probate
- Sole Practitioner, Law Offices of John G. Evans; Specialized in Civil Litigation Trials (1996-2008)
- Junior Partner, MacLachlan, Burford & Arias; Specialized in Civil Litigation Trials (1986-1996)
- Associate, Furness, Flory & Middlebrook; Specialized in Civil Litigation (1981-1986)
- Associate, Harding & Miller; Specialized in Civil Litigation (1979-1981)
- J.D., California Southern Law School (Citrus Belt Law School) (1975-1979)
- B.S., University of California, Riverside (1971-1975)
- Judge Pro Tem, Riverside Superior Court; Handled Mandatory Settlement Conferences
- Adjunct Professor, California Desert Trial Academy (2012-Present); Teaching Torts
- ABOTA, President of San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter (2005/2006); President-Elect (2004; Treasurer/Secretary (2003); Member (1998-Present)
- Desert Bar Association, President (1998-1999)
- Riverside County Bar Association, Member
- San Bernardino County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Desert Bar Association, Member
- Warren Slaughter/Richard Roemer Inn of Court
- Civility Award, ABOTA’s San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter (2003)
Contractual
- Both as trial counsel and as a judge, he has handled contractual disputes. As trial counsel, one such trial involved a suit between a seller, several purchasers, and the auctioneers over alleged eight figures in sales. As a trial judge, one such suit involved a fee dispute between counsel over an eight-figure settlement. Other multimillion-dollar significant trials involved disputes over land purchases, the purchase of a bowling alley, construction loans, and a summary judgment award involving tribal construction.
Construction Defects
- As a trial attorney, he has handled numerous construction defect cases. As a judge, he utilized his strong understanding of the construction process to make key rulings that paved the way for successful settlement discussions.
Wrongful Termination
- As a trial attorney, he has handled wrongful termination cases. As a judge, he has presided over wrongful termination, PAGA, and sexual harassment in the work place trials.
Bad Faith
- A significant part of his personal practice involved insurance defense work. As plaintiff’s counsel, one trial involved an insurance bad faith case following the flooding of a high-end motorhome and was tried in federal court.
Probate
- During 6 years as a probate judge, he handled 36 Guardianship trials,12 Conservatorship trials, 10 Decedent Estates trials, and 17 Trust trials. The Trust and Decedent Estate trials and hearings ranged from small estates to estates exceeding 60 million dollars.
Wrongful Death
- As a trial attorney, he has tried numerous cases involving personal injuries, both as plaintiff’s counsel and as defense counsel. As a judge, he has presided over wrongful death cases, including a product defect tire rollover matter.
