Go to Central Casting and tell them, “I need someone who looks like a judge, and he needs to look elderly.” Guess what? the guy you are looking for is in Dept. 43 down at the “Stanley.” Over the last few weeks I have heard different opinions on the “new” judge that took Judge Rafael Ongkeko’s place. Being perfectly honest here folks, Judge Ongkeko was not the most popular judge among the city’s divorce lawyers. Many — not all — would pass on having Ongkeko hear a case. Judge Ongkeko had a personality that was a little tough to understand, I have had that very same problem over the years. Should I say that maybe criminal courts in Van Nuys might be more fertile ground for his style and warm personality…just a suggestion (this was the judge that Mel Gibson’s legal team got booted from his case. Under California law, lawyers have 10 days from the filing date to apply for a different judge).

Back to Judge Robert E. Willett, a former litigator for over thirty years with the firm of O’Melveney. Pretty much right out of Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law (1974) he went to work with O’Melveney and remained there up until his appointment by former Governor Schwarzenegger in 2010 to the Superior Court bench. Now I am just guessing that this had to be a BIG pay cut for Judge Willett. For any lawyer to become a judge it is almost a crowning point, the icing on the cake and again, Judge Willett was not making minimum wage as a 30 year litigatior with a firm like O’Melveney (sounds like a good name for a cookie). So let’s not do any fund-raising for the good judge, now some judges who had other positions and not with big firms or founding partners, them maybe.

I spoke to several lawyers prior to visiting Dept. 43 and having a seat. Some that I spoke to had a wait-and-see attitude except for Patrick DeCarolis of Trope and Decarolis. Patrick told me that he got a sense of “quiet power“ and furthermore to make his point even more clearly, “I like him.” Well I sat in the front row as I often do and watched and listened as a group of four lawyers attempted to practice law. I immediately saw what Mr. DeCarolis had mentioned, “quiet power,” Judge Willett is not going to wring his hands and I don’t see him sitting on his hands and rocking either, he has been around and in far more difficult positions as a litigator than he will be in the position he holds now. My point is that I think we have a new judge who once he gets his footing is going to be one of our favorites at DesperateExes.com.

Sure he has that smile and glint in his eye, more likely he has that even when he is pissed, you know what I mean? And it is going to be the job of any lawyer in front of Judge Willett to figure out — is he smiling because I am doing a good job or is he thinking, “moron”! To me that is the best part of Judge Robert E. Willett.

Welcome Judge Willett to the “Stanley” from all of us at DesperateExes.com>

Visit Desperate Exes.com to read all of John J. Nazarian’s thoughts on all things of the rich and/or famous.

http://desperateexes.com/2011/06/26/judge-willet-settles-in-at-the-mosk/

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©John J. Nazarian
July 1, 2011
Used with the permission of John Nazarian P. I. – writer
All Rights Reserved, do not reproduce in whole or in part without the express written consent of the author.

The expressions in this blog article are based on the opinions of our featured author, John Nazarian, please remember we are not lawyers and those opinions expressed here are each of our individual opinions and should not be taken as legal advice and/or legal opinions. The comments following this blog article are the opinions and sole property of the blog site members and do not necessarily reflect those of the site owners.

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Tags: a different judge, a sense of “quiet power“, appointment by former Governor Schwarzenegger, appointment by former Governor Schwarzenegger in 2010, Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Beverly Hills, California law, Celebrity Trials, Central Casting, criminal courts in Van Nuys, Desperateexes.com, Divorce Hollywood Style, High Profile Trials, Hollywood, John J. Nazarian, John J. Nazarian P. I., Judge Rafael Ongkeko, Judge Robert E. Willett, Judge Willett and “quiet power”, law firm of O’Melveney, lawyers have 10 days from the filing date, Los Angeles, Mel Gibson, Mel Gibson’s legal team, one of our favorites at DesperateExes.com, Patrick DeCarolis, Patrick DeCarolis Esq., Stanley Mosk, Stanley Mosk Court House, Stanley Mosk Court House in Los Angeles, the best part of Judge Robert E. Willett, the Superior Court bench, Trope and DeCarolis, Van Nuys, visiting Dept. 43 Stanley Mosk Court House, Welcome Judge Willett to the “Stanley”, “quiet power“

Well it was smackdowns and laughs in Department 2 this morning at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Real funny for some and real sad for others. Department 2 is the domain of Judge Steinberg and the judge was sticking with her “tentative”..$489,254.05. Yup, she did it and this was an interim fee award without prejudice to request MORE!!!!! More??!! This judge got it and understood clearly what was being done in her court and did the right thing! And you know, the rich are different and should pay when they can to “keep the monkeys dancing.”

Who might you ask were the actors in this divorce drama???? Lisa Kerkorian was in court today with her lawyers, Michael Trope and his partner Patrick DeCarolis, it was strange, these two divorce titans said pretty much nothing…almost church-like! Their paperwork was submitted and there they sat waiting for a decision from Judge Steinberg. NOW, on the other side representing the 41st richest man in the world were Joe Mannis and Robert Kipper, who might you ask is their client? None other than Kirk Kerkorian, who is a very rich old fellow, born in Fresno on June 6, 1917. (I had the chance to meet him for a few seconds during his appearance in Federal Court in defense of his former lawyer and good friend, Terry Christensen. During the Anthony Pellicano wire tapping trial. He was twice as entertaining as Chris Rock …)

Joe Mannis was beside himself as he was throwing all he could to get the Judge not to give this huge sum of money to Lisa’s lawyers….

This is more than huge money, Michael Trope and his client Lisa K can go back to court and likely get more in the weeks and months to come. This is bad for the rich old guy, now the former love of his life can fight him with his own money! If I were Mr. Mannis I would hope that Mr. Kerkorian does not have the volume turned up on his hearing aid when his assistant tells him that he got hammered in Los Angeles this morning…then again one must reflect that you cannot take all that money with you…

Note: It would appear that this year Mr. Kerkorian has been very generous to a few lawyers here in Los Angeles…”what was that clicking sound on my phone?”…

This appears to have all of the big and powerful players in the Hollywood Divorce Scene employed, finish reading John J. Nazarian’s take at the below URL and while there browse through his latest group of articles and the joke he posted.

http://desperateexes.com/2010/05/12/judge-orders-lotsa-bacon-for-lisa-da-k-lawyers/.

©John J. Nazarian
May 15, 2010
Used with the permission of John Nazarian P. I. – writer
All Rights Reserved, do not reproduce in whole or in part without the express written consent of the author.

The expressions in this blog article are based on the opinions of our featured author, John Nazarian, please remember we are not lawyers and those opinions expressed here are each of our individual opinions and should not be taken as legal advice and/or legal opinions. The comments following this blog article are the opinions and sole property of the blog site members and do not necessarily reflect those of the site owners.

Please also read our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.

Tags: almost church-like, Anthony Pellicano, Anthony Pellicano wire tapping trial, Beverly Hills, Celebrity Trials, Chris Rock, Desperateexes.com, Divorce Hollywood Style, half million in legal fees, High Profile Trials, Hollyweird Divorces, Hollywood, Hollywood Divorce Scene, Hollywood Divroce, Joe Mannis Esq., John J. Nazarian, John J. Nazarian P. I., Judge Steinberg, Kerkorian Divorce, Kerkorian vs. Kerkorian, Kirk Kerkorian, Lisa K, Lisa Kerkorian, Los Angeles, Michael Trope Esq., Patrick DeCarolis Esq., Robert Kipper Esq., Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Terry Christensen Esq., Trope and DeCarolis LLP, two divorce titans