Judge Lawrence Riff probes with questions and hypotheticals to distill legal principles

A former toxic tort litigator and longtime partner at Steptoe & Johnson, Superior Court Judge Lawrence P. Riff handles some of Los Angeles County's most high-profile and consequential cases ranging from bail reform and wildfire insurance disputes to defective products and social media liability. Respected for his courtroom control, intellectual rigor, and willingness to explore nuance, Riff believes the decline of trials has eroded litigation skills and increased discovery conflicts--problems he's tackling through new legal workshops. 

Lawrence P. Riff

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Career Highlights: Appointed Los Angeles County Superior Court judge by Gov. Jerry Brown, July 16, 2015; partner, Steptoe and Johnson LLP, 1997-2015; partner, associate Lane Powell PC, 1986-97; trial attorney, Southern Pacific Transportation Company, 1982-85

Law School: University of Oregon School of Law, 1982 

Los Angeles County Superior Court

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Los Angeles County Judge Lawrence P. Riff knows the law, likes to discuss the law and consider all the possibilities. If he is concerned with hypotheticals - 'Should he recuse himself from a lawsuit challenging a policy set by his colleagues? - he asks lots of questions and takes his time deliberating.

"Judge Riff is an exceedingly thoughtful and open-minded judge. He is both practically minded and keenly interested in legal details, substantive and procedura... (continued)