Downey Brand Partner Appointed to Sacramento County Superior Court
August 7, 2023
Downey Brand is pleased to announce that Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Downey Brand partner Jeffrey Galvin to a judgeship in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Galvin fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Geoffrey Goodman and will begin service later this month.
Galvin has been with the firm since 1998. He founded the firm’s trust and estate litigation practice group and created and edited a leading blog, www.trustontrial.com. Galvin has also served in several leadership roles at the firm, including assistant general counsel, pro bono coordinator, and, most recently, marketing partner. In his litigation practice, Galvin has guided clients through complicated trust and estate litigation and related civil disputes, including will and trust contests, financial elder abuse claims, and trust/probate administration conflicts.
“Jeff will be a fair and balanced judge, who will serve the litigants in his courtroom with the same wisdom, tenacity, and deep care that he has shown to his clients and colleagues over the years,” said Jan Fleener, Managing Partner at Downey Brand. “We will miss seeing Jeff in our halls every day, but are thrilled that he’ll be serving the Sacramento County legal community on the bench of our Superior Court.”
In addition to being a seasoned litigator widely recognized for his skill and professionalism, Galvin is heavily involved in the legal community. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court and the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association’s Trusts and Estate Section. Galvin also helps oversee a pro bono estate planning project in collaboration with Legal Services of Northern California and Capital Pro Bono. Additionally, he serves as the Treasurer and a director of Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.
“I’ve grown up as a lawyer at Downey Brand and look forward to serving the community as a judge of the Superior Court,” said Galvin. “Many thanks to my partners, co-workers, mentors, colleagues, clients and family for teaching, inspiring and encouraging me.”
Before joining Downey Brand, Galvin served as a staff attorney in the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission from 1994 to 1998. He was a law clerk to Judge John G. Davies at the U.S. District Court, Central District of California, from 1993 to 1994. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Harvard College. Galvin has earned accolades throughout his career, including a Voice of Conscience Award from the Kennedy Inn of Court, the June Black Pro Bono Award from the Voluntary Legal Services Program, an Outstanding Graduate Student Award from UCLA, an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and recognition by Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers for his expertise in trusts and estates litigation.