About Judge Sarmiento
Judge Sarmiento brings the perspective of 26 years on the bench to a mediation practice that spans nearly every area of civil litigation. As a judge, he presided over hundreds of successful settlement conferences and launched the Santa Monica Court’s first Civil Referee Assisted Settlement Hearing (CRASH) program for personal injury cases, personally conducting more than 10 settlement conferences each week.
Since leaving the bench, he has built an extensive mediation practice, resolving disputes in employment, business and commercial, real property and HOA, construction, entertainment, insurance, and personal injury matters. His caseload ranges from neighbor disputes to multi-million-dollar, multi-party cases, and his clients include individuals, small businesses, national corporations, and public entities.
Judge Sarmiento is known for meticulous preparation and for staying with a case long after the mediation session ends, continuing to follow up until the parties reach resolution. His organization and steady command of complex, high-stakes matters, combined with a fair and balanced approach, make him especially effective at breaking impasse, even when the parties start far apart. Attorneys consistently describe him as professional, thoughtful, and decisive.
Areas of Focus
- Business / Commercial
- Construction Defects
- Employment
- Entertainment
- Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Real Estate
- Sports
Career
- 2014–presentFull-time Neutral
- 1993–2014Judge, Los Angeles County Superior CourtAlso served as a Settlement Judge, and organized and managed the Santa Monica court’s first personal injury Civil Referee Assisted Settlement Hearing (CRASH) program
- 1988–1993Judge, Los Angeles County Municipal Court
- 1982–1988Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County
- 1981–1982Deputy Public Defender, Los Angeles County
Education
- J.D., UC Davis School of Law
- B.A., California State University, Northridge
Professional Affiliations
- Santa Monica Bar Association, Member (2015–present)
Achievements & Awards
- Distinguished Jurist Award, Philippine American Bar Association (2015)
Outside the Office
Judge Sarmiento is an avid surfer and golfer who plays jazz, blues, and rock guitar.