Hon. Franz E. Miller

Judge Franz Miller, who retired from the Orange County Superior Court in 2019, continues to serve the legal community through his arbitration-mediation-court reference work at JAMS. He enjoys helping lawyers and parties resolve their legal disputes in an efficient manner. Judge Miller continues to be active in the Orange County legal community, and enjoys competing in dog agility in his spare time.

Educational & Employment History • BA from University of California, Los Angeles (1971) • J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles (1974) • Orange County deputy public defender (1976 to 1983) • Private practice (1983 to 1989) • Court of Appeal senior staff attorney (1989 to 2002) • Orange County Superior Court Judge (2002 to 2019) • Judicial Assignments: Family Law Panel (2002 to 2007 and 2015 to 2019); Unlimited Civil Panel (2007 to 2015); Supervising Judge, Civil Panel (2014 to 2015) • Arbitrator/mediator working through Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) (2019 to present) • Adjunct Professor of law at Western State, Chapman, and Whittier Law Schools

Achievements & Other Notable Experience • CEB Commentator on Civil Discovery • Orange County Bar Association president (1997) • OCBA Charitable Fund Individual Honoree (2021) • Robert Banyard Inn of Court president (2006 to 2008) • Judicial Civility Award (2012) • Orange County Women Lawyers Judge of the Year (2012) • Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County Judge of the Year (2004) • Orange County Asian American Bar Association Judge of the Year (2013) • Celtic Bar Association Judge of the Year (2006) • Orange County Trial Lawyers Association (2019 to present) • Judicial Excellence Award (2012)