Lunch Time General Session – Judicial Perspective: Exploring Opportunities To Utilize Mediation Options To Avoid Trial

Judge Belz was appointed to the Orange County Superior Court in March of 2009. At the time of his appointment, he had an extensive background as a trail attorney. The first five years of his legal career he was a criminal defense attorney and handled numerous midemeanor and felony jury trials to verdict. Judge Belz represented plaintiffs in personal injury matters for 27 years. He handled a broad range of personal injury trials in both state and federa court. Afer his appointment to the bench, Judge Belz has served on the teaching faculty for the Center for Judicial Education and Research Advisory Committee (CJER) for both family law and probate law. Judge Belz recently completed a three year appointment on the Judicial Council’s Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee.

Teresa Gorman is an attorney certified as a Specialist in the area of Trusts & Estates by the State Bar of California and a licensed Real Estate Broker.  Teresa opened her boutique law practice in 2000. The Law Offices of Teresa Gorman handled highly contested Trust & Estate matters with an emphasis on representation of the professional fiduciary client. Teresa was regularly appointed by the Courts to serve as court-appointed attorney and guardian ad litem to protect the rights of elder persons entangled in legal matters. 

In 2018 Teresa joined the team at Fiduciary Real Estate Services (FRES) as a Senior Broker. In her role at FRES, Teresa is part of a team representing Fiduciary clients in the sale of Estate real property assets. Teresa scrutinizes each sale to protect the Fiduciary in the sales process, ensuring  highest sales price is achieved and the Fiduciary seller has met the standard of care for their particular fiduciary role.

Teresa is an Adjunct Professor at University of California – Riverside. She taught courses in the Professional Fiduciary courses for individual seeking to meet the educational requirements to obtain or maintain a Private Professional Fiduciary license. Teresa also serves a Temporary Judge for Orange County Superior Court for Trust & Estate matters.  Teresa regularly is a presenter to various professional organizations, including local Trust & Estate Bar organizations, on variety of subjects.