Commissioner John Soldati is pleased to announce that he is running for San Joaquin Superior Court Judge in the 2018 June Primary.  Mr. Soldati is no stranger to the bench, having served as a Superior Court Commissioner since 2016.  His tasks include traffic court, court trials, probation and parole revocations, drug court, small claims trials, unlawful detainer trials, and a variety of other judicial functions.

Commissioner Soldati, 50, began his legal career by attending McGeorge School of Law while working full time and raising a family.   Despite such a grueling schedule, he excelled in his studies and graduated in 1998 with Great Distinction and in the top ten percent of his class.  He was then hired as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted criminal matters.  For eight and a half years, he handled a variety of criminal prosecutions, both misdemeanors and felonies, including traffic, thefts, burglaries, sex offenses, drug offenses, prison crimes, assaults, gun crimes, attempted murders and other serious and violent crimes.   He has successfully completed over 50 jury trials in addition to court trials.

He left the District Attorney’s Office in 2007 to open his own law practice handling a variety of matters.   He maintained this practice until he was unanimously appointed to his current position by the Judges of San Joaquin County in 2016.

In addition to his function as a Superior Court Commissioner, Mr. Soldati is also on faculty at Humphreys University, Drivon School of Law, as an adjunct professor teaching ethics and criminal procedure.

Commissioner Soldati is looking forward to continuing to serve the citizens of San Joaquin County in a new capacity as a Superior Court Judge in 2018. “Having handled both criminal prosecution and defense, and having handled both civil plaintiff’s work and defense, I feel I am uniquely qualified to continue my track record of adjudicating fairly the variety of matters that come before the Judges of this Court,” Commissioner Soldati said.

He and his wife Lucy have been married for 25 years and live in San Joaquin County with their six children, ages eight to twenty-two. 

Further information may be found at soldatiforjudge.com.

Experience:

I have 25 years of legal experience, and over 20 years in my own practice.  I have dealt with a wide range of legal issues from constitutional law, real estate, business and civil litigation, employment, education law, probate, criminal and family law. I have served as an arbitrator and mediator.  I am a former duly sworn Judge Pro Tem.  Along with my 10 years of service as an Administrative law Hearing Officer for the City of Stockton, hearing and deciding upon issues that affect the everyday lives of people from all walks of life, i have the knowledge and experience you need to serve you as a San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge.

Fair & Compassionate:

I have been a strong supporter of our local police and fire departments.  I have a strong respect for the sacrifice and service they provide and have assisted in advocating that their services are not reduced thereby threatening the security and safety of our communities.

As an elected member of the San Joaquin County Board of Education we are given the resposibility to hear and decide cases involving expulsions of students from the several school districts in this County.  I am often chosen by my peers on the Board to speak with the students and their families that come before us for disciplinary actions.  the hope is that i might help them understand the consequences of their actions on our society and give them direction how it can be corrected.  I take great care in explaining these consequences and how they can make better decisions to ensure they become responsible and contributing adults of our community.  

Well Rounded:

From being a small business owner with the running of my private law practice and small family farm, to being an elected member of the San Joaquin County Board of Education, my community service and volunteer work with youth organizations and as a high school coach, to being a husband and parent, I have the wide ranging expereince of the everyday struggles we all go through that will ensure that your voice and concerns will be heard and understood in my courtroom.  

Background:

I have been married for 35 years and have six children, all contributing members of this community.  I have lived in this County for 40 years and received my education attending local schools, graduating from Humphreys Univeristy, Lawrence Drivon School of Law.  I have a vested interest in our County and seeing that the safety of its citizens remains a high priority.  

As your Judge I will execute my duties in an effective and efficient manner.  I understand the workings of our courts and how we can improve the administration of justice.  The productive and contributing members of our community should expect nothing less.