Steven P. Saxton

Retired

For nearly 30 years, public agencies, businesses and agricultural landowners have looked to Steve Saxton to successfully handle water, resources, and land use litigation and representation in both private negotiations and in state and federal courts throughout California.

Steve’s practice is grounded in a deep appreciation for the far-reaching policy concerns that are part of all resource management and land use disputes. With each case, he offers a thorough assessment to ensure that clients make their legal decisions with the understanding that even the smallest water right or entitlement issue must be resolved with an eye to this broader context.

Steve strives for practical solutions to litigation and provides particular attention to the technical complexities entailed in all of the matters he handles. This means placing a priority on getting engineers, planners, and hydrologists engaged and prepared early in the process. Steve’s goal in every case is to provide both the legal and technical analyses that can avoid or shorten litigation. And when litigation is unavoidable, he works to ensure that this expertise can be readily understood and correctly acted on by judges, juries, and other decision makers.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, Litigation Committee, Past Co-Chair
  • Association of California Water Agencies, Federal Affairs Committee
  • California Lawyers Association, Litigation and Natural Resources Sections, Former Member
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Former Member
  • Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada, Board of Directors, 2003-present
  • Camellia Symphony Orchestra, Former Director
  • Alta California Regional Center, Former Director and President
  • Parents for Special Children, Former Director

Honors & Rankings

  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, 1993-present
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, 2015-2016, 2018
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  • Lead litigation and appellate counsel for Sacramento Valley CVP contractors asserting area of origin rights to contract water supplies.
  • Litigation co-counsel for the Kern Water Bank Authority defending CEQA and related claims challenging the Monterey-Plus Agreement for allocating State Water Project supply.
  • Lead CEQA counsel for Sacramento Municipal Utility District defending PG&E challenge to Yolo County annexation.
  • Lead litigation counsel for California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in several CEQA challenges to facilities construction and modification.
  • Lead trial counsel for a consortium of Sacramento Valley water contractors in defense of Endangered Species Act claims regarding chinook salmon and Delta smelt.
  • Lead litigation counsel for Monterey County in defense of recreation contract claims arising from proposed Salinas Valley Water Project.
  • Lead trial counsel, Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin adjudication (successful representation of plaintiff against claims of groundwater basin overdraft).
  • Litigation and appellate counsel defending Sacramento River Settlement Contractors against ESA challenges to contract renewals.
  • Lead litigation counsel defending Monterey County Water Resources Agency against CEQA, Public Trust Doctrine and Constitutional (Proposition 218) challenges to Salinas Valley Water Project.

Announcements

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In the News

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Speaking Engagements / Events

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  • 2010
    California Water Quality & Its Impact on Supply, Law Seminars International
    Presenter


Legal Alerts

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Publications

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Steve has served in several capacities to advance the interests of the special needs community. He has served on the Boards of Sacramento Parents for Special Children, as a director and President of the Alta California Regional Center, and for the past several years on the board of Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada. In his volunteer efforts, as in his practice, Steve is devoted to making public institutions function for those they serve and ensuring the regulation of private interests is as efficient and unobtrusive as possible.


Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, Litigation Committee, Past Co-Chair
  • Association of California Water Agencies, Federal Affairs Committee
  • California Lawyers Association, Litigation and Natural Resources Sections, Former Member
  • California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
  • Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, Former Member
  • Goodwill Industries of Sacramento Valley and Northern Nevada, Board of Directors, 2003-present
  • Camellia Symphony Orchestra, Former Director
  • Alta California Regional Center, Former Director and President
  • Parents for Special Children, Former Director

Honors & Rankings

  • AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®, 1993-present
  • Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, 2015-2016, 2018
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society