Judge England joined Judicate West, following his retirement from the U.S. District Court. He has more than 40 years of combined legal experience, including nearly 30 years of judicial service. He was appointed to the district court in 2002 and served as Chief Judge of the Eastern District of California from 2012-2016. He has presided over countless matters in a wide array of civil areas. He began his career as a civil litigator with the firm Quattrin, Johnson, Campora & England.
Judge England has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to serving our country both within and outside the courtroom. He has contributed his expertise to numerous committees within the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Judicial Council and the State-Federal Judicial Council, holding multiple terms. His work has focused on advancing issues related to technology, patents, and trademarks. Additionally, he has emerged as a respected global leader on judicial matters, influencing practices and policies around the world.
Well respected by the legal community, he has been named “Judge of the Year” by the Capitol City Trial Lawyers, the Sacramento County Bar Association, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and deservedly has earned a reputation for his ability to connect with people and fostering a trusting and secure environment where parties can present their cases and obtain fair and sound results.
Practice Areas
- ADA
- Business/Commercial
- Civil Rights
- Construction
- Intellectual Property
- Technology
Hobbies & Interests
Judge England has traveled to numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, India, Indonesia, Iraq and Morocco, as part of an exchange with the judiciary of each of those countries. He also enjoys traveling domestically with his wife.
Legal Career
- Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2024-Present)
- Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (2002-2024); Chief Judge (2012-2016); Senior Status (2019-2024)
- Judge, Sacramento Superior Court, General Trial Court presiding over criminal and civil matters
- JAG Corps, U.S. Army Reserve (1988-2002)
- Partner, Quattrin, Johnson, Campora & England (1983-1996); Specialized in Civil Rights, Construction, and Probate Law
Education & Professional Affiliations
- J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1983)
- B.A., University of the Pacific (1977)
- Former Vice President, of the Executive Board, California Judges Association
- Former Chair, Executive Committee, Sacramento Superior Court
- Former Member, Technology Committee, Sacramento Superior Court
- Former Committee Member of the Information Technology Advisory Council, Eastern District of California
- Adjunct Professor of Law, McGeorge Law School
Achievements & Awards
- Appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, member of the Judicial Council of the U.S. on Information Technology
- Appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, member of the Advisory Committee on Criminal Rules (2008-2015)
- ABOTA “Judge of the Year” (2014)
- Sacramento County Bar Association “Judge of the Year” (2007)
- Capitol City Trial Lawyers “Judge of the Year” (2006)
Appellate Evaluation
- Sat by designation on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in dozens of cases, including commercial contract disputes, constitutional challenges, immigration petitions, social security petitions, habeas petitions, and criminal appeals.
Contractual
- Issued dispositive rulings in numerous commercial cases, including as to breach of contract arguments between business partners, suppliers and distributors, etc.
- Entertained motions to confirm arbitration awards and for attorneys’ fees in multiple multi-million dollar international arbitration matters.
Fed. Whistleblower/Qui Tam
- Presided over multiple qui tam or false claims act cases brought on behalf of multiple states and the federal government.
Constr. Defect/Real Property
- Presided over numerous construction cases involving everything from residential construction, to complex construction defect cases, to cases involving construction on federal land or involving federal contractors.
Construction Breach Of Contract
- Handled multiple disputes between general contractors and subcontractors as well as involving all manner of construction-related insurance on the bench and as a litigator.
Employment Wage & Hour Class Action PAGA
- Presided over countless PAGA cases and wage and hour class actions arising under both state and federal law.
Wrongful Termination
- Handled a wide variety of other employment cases, such as those for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and for failure to make reasonable accommodations.
ADA Issues
- Extensive experience presiding over hundreds of ADA cases involving both private parties and public entities over the course of approximately twenty years.
Civil Rights
- Presided over countless civil rights disputes arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for claims of excessive force, unlawful search and seizure, and/or deliberate indifference.
- Presided over a First Amendment case involving the international publication of books that purportedly contained false information.
- Decided multiple cases involving political speech, including a challenge to campaign disclosure laws as applied to a controversial ballot initiative.
- Issued dispositive decisions in a case in which union members challenged as unconstitutional “Hudson notices” issued regarding their dues.
Employment Issues
- Presided over countless PAGA cases and wage and hour class actions arising under both state and federal law.
Govt. Admin and Agency
- Resolved numerous liability cases brought against the United States Government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, including claims for great bodily injury occurring at an electric substation on an air force base.
Intellectual Property
- Presided over multiple intellectual property matters regarding emerging technology.
General IP
- Presided over multiple intellectual property matters regarding emerging technology, including cases involving patents for components of a wheel assembly used to help move heavy machinery, “robocopiers” that were designed to copy video files from a computer to multiple discs, and freezer bags and components used to improve the storage of blood at low temperatures.
IP Patent
- Presided over multiple intellectual property matters regarding emerging technology, including cases involving patents for components of a wheel assembly used to help move heavy machinery, “robocopiers” that were designed to copy video files from a computer to multiple discs, and freezer bags and components used to improve the storage of blood at low temperatures.
Breach Of Contract
- Presided over numerous challenges to residential lenders’ practices purportedly leading to borrower defaults and lenders’ failure to modify loans as promised.
Landlord/Tenant
- Resolved landlord/tenant disputes and cases involving eminent domain while on the bench.
Real Property
- Practiced real estate law prior to being appointed to the state bench.
Catastrophic Injury
- Resolved numerous liability cases brought against the United States Government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, including claims for great bodily injury occurring at an electric substation on an air force base.
General Negligence
- Decided claims concerning every conceivable factual scenario involving liability for negligence, battery, assault, trespass, conversion, false imprisonment and intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress under state law.
Judge England was an exemplary member of the judiciary and an incredible person. He has impacted so many attorneys and parties in ways that renewed faith in the system and in humanity.
- Deputy County Counsel, San Joaquin County
I have appeared before Judge England hundreds of times over several decades throughout the course of my career as a state prosecutor, federal prosecutor, and now defense counsel, and I can honestly report that Judge England has always been sharp, focused, result-oriented, and productive. His sensible approach to complex cases blends his courtroom experience with an absolute respect for the law, generously served with a dollop of welcome good humor. Judge England is simply one of the best.
- Attorney Based in Sacramento
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Arbitration/Private Judging Case Manager:
Heidi Adams