Honoring Judge Kobayashi - At the March family law luncheon both bench and bar honored Judge Kobayashi since he officially retired from the bench in January 2006.

Mary Molinaro spoke on behalf of the family law section and discussed Judge Kobayashi's personal and professional accomplishments. He was also honored by Appellate Court Justice Art Scotland and Sacramento County Bar President, Jack Laufenberg, who spoke on behalf of the county bar.

Those honoring Judge Kobayashi focused on how he has been instrumental towards the improvements of the family law system and his commitment to families, expecially children. He was instrumental in changing the Local Rules, instituting the private mediation panel, the 730 evaluator panel, improving the mediation process, and forming the pro per mediation clinic. He was also instrumental in creating the minor's counsel panel and revising the local rules regarding minor's counsel including creating the draft orders and all of the trainings that have occurred over the years for minor's counsel. He was a model in this state for improvements to the family law system, as well as his commitment and work ethic.

Judge Kobayashi initiall moved to Family Law Court in 1991 and was appointed supervising family law judge from 1993 to 1998. Then, from 1999 to 2000, he was the supervising probate court judge. And then he voluntarily reassigned himself to probate court supervising judge and family court judge in January 2002 where he stayed until his recent retirement. He did this because there was a need for experienced family law judges at the time and he saw the need and volunteered himself.

His other accolades include being instrumental in working with the probate bar in making significant improvements in procedure and access to programs such as unrepresented litigants clinics, free mediation for the unrepresented litigants, private mediation and tri-court coordination.

He was recognized as Judge of the Year for Sacramento County in 1996 and as Family Law Judge of the Year by the State Bar.

Judge Kobayashi addressed the bar expressing his gratitude for being honored and provided a few words of wisdom for the family law practitioner. His advice is, first know the facts throughly and be prepared. Second, do not waste time filing motions to compel. Third, appreciate the importance of filing timely statements of issues and moving the case forward to trial when necessary so that delay does not exasperate the difficulties of the case. And last, explore mediation and alternative dispute resolution methnds whenever possible. Judge Kobayashi felt that most family law cases should be resolved outside of the courtroom.

Thank you Judge Kobayashi for all of your contributions to the family law community. You will be dearly missed!