larger view

Mathew "Matt" Brady is a Bakersfield attorney. The following information was obtained from the California Bar Association Web site. This entry will be updated when he responds to The Californian's candidate questionnaire and supplemental judicial questions. You are invited to post your comments and questions concerning this candidate. The candidate is invited to respond directly onto this blog. If he chooses not to, The Californian will attempt to obtain answers to your questions.

Undergraduate School: California State University, Bakersfield

Law School: McGeorge School of Law, University of Pacific, California

Status: Active

Admitted to the California Bar: Dec. 7, 1988

Disciplinary record: None

CALIFORNIAN QUESTIONNAIRE

Name:    Matt Brady    or Mathew Mitchell Brady   

Office sought:    Kern County Superior Court Judge

Born: 1960 in Ridgecrest, CA

Spouse’s name: Shannon Brady

Number of children and ages: 2 Children: 15, 17

Current occupation/employer:
Vice President & General Counsel, ABA Energy Corp.

List employment history (past 20 years):

1988-1995    Associate Attorney for Clifford, Jenkins & Brown/ Clifford & Brown

1995-2001        Partner at Jenkins, Barnes & Brady/Jenkins & Brady

April-July 2000    Counsel to Committee on House Administration, U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

2001-2002    Mathew Brady, Attorney at Law (Serving as counsel to ABA Energy Corporation)

2002-Present    Vice President & General Counsel, ABA Energy Corporation

Professional licenses: License to Practice Law in the State of California

How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election?
40+ years

Political offices you have held:  Kern County Republican Central Committee; Chairman 2005-2006; Vice Chairman 2003-2004; Treasurer 2000-2002

Political offices you have sought: (dates, locations, outcomes):
Kern County Republican Central Committee: Ran successfully in the 2nd District for many years.  Ran in the 4th District in 2006 and was not successful.

Board memberships/Community activities: 
•    Planning Commission, City of Bakersfield 1994-1997; 1998-2002
•    Kern Superintendent of Schools High School Mock Trial Program  - coach, scoring judge, Presiding Judge/Jurist
•    Kern River Alliance, member


Education:   Boron High School, High School Diploma; 1974-1978 California State University Bakersfield, BA in Political Science with a minor in music 1978-1982
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Juris Doctor 1985-1988

Military:    N/A

Describe anything you have published, invented, discovered, painted, etc., and events or hobbies that would be interesting for a biographical story:  I sing bass in my church choir.  In college I performed in the choir and jazz choir and played the trumpet in the concert band.

Campaign committee members:    Treasurer Conni Brunni

State or Federal campaign ID number: Pending

Campaign consultant:    Mark Abernathy       

List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others
(Include year): None

List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year): None

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Why did you become a lawyer?  I first decided to become a lawyer when I was still a teenager. It appeared to me at that time that whenever there was some big issue that needed to be resolved that lawyers were involved in resolving it.  As I grew older I became fascinated by our society’s ability to govern itself through the law and as a student and practitioner of the law I felt I could have a positive influence on our society.

Have you been disciplined in any way by a Bar Association or successfully sued for malpractice?     No

Why do you want to become a judge?     In my mind this is the highest calling for a lawyer.  Throughout my legal career there have been judges that have inspired me and I feel that this is the best way I can serve my community.

What is the nature of your law practice?  For most of my career I had a civil litigation practice that involved handling all aspects of lawsuits covering a wide range of issues. I have represented in litigation: farmers, doctors, hospitals, retailers, contractors, oil and gas companies and oil and gas service companies, government agencies, small businesses and just ordinary people in need of legal services. I also developed a general business practice covering issues including formation of businesses, employment issues, contract preparation, real property matters, business purchase and sale, corporate governance, etc.  In my present practice as the General Counsel for a business I use all of the aspects of my past practice and have further developed my oil and gas law expertise.  In addition, I now hire, supervise and direct the activities of outside counsel to perform legal services throughout California. I also have had the opportunity to personally handle litigation for the business involving property worth millions of dollars which I successfully tried before a panel of arbitrators led by a retired federal judge.

How often have you gone to trial?  As a civil litigator most of my cases were resolved by trying cases before an arbitrator, through law and motion practice, or by means of settlement.  In addition much of the work of a litigator is conducted outside the courtroom by performing discovery including deposing witnesses under oath, and taking other steps to conduct fact finding.  As a civil litigator I have spent a great deal of time preparing for and appearing in court on law and motion matters seeking court orders that addressed various aspects of the cases including summary judgment motions which terminated the cases.  In addition, I have occasionally handled appellate matters before the Fifth District Court of Appeal.

How often have you tried a case before a jury? During my litigation career, in working on hundreds of litigated matters, I have had the opportunity to serve as lead counsel for four jury trials.

Are you qualified to argue a case before the Supreme Court?
I am qualified to argue a case before the California Supreme Court.  I could qualify for, but have not applied to practice before, the U.S. Supreme Court.

Have you served pro bono as an attorney for a client or organization?  Yes.  I have assisted groups in forming non-profit corporations and served as counsel to them on a pro bono basis.

Have you served as a judge pro tem, mediator, arbitrator or hearing officer? How often?  As a planning commissioner for the City of Bakersfield, I served in a quasi-judicial position which routinely required me to make factual findings, apply CEQA as well as land use and zoning laws to projects, and otherwise determine whether applications before the commission were in compliance with California law.

What is your judicial philosophy?  As a Superior Court Judge I will strive to provide a fair, impartial, consistent forum to resolve disputes, adjudicate criminal offenses, and address the variety of issues brought before our local courts.  I am a conservative person and not a judicial activist with an agenda. I do not believe judges should take on a legislative role but should instead focus on applying the law to the facts of each case.  I take seriously the oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California and will do so to the best of my ability.  I believe that all participants in the legal process deserve to be treated with respect so that justice may be served.