James E. Reed: The Best Man for the Job
James E. Reed has practiced law for over 30 years, and has practiced law in Fall River Mills for over 15 years. He has handled thousands of cases, including both criminal and civil law. Many of those cases have gone to trial before a jury.
Jim's 33 years experience in Court has convinced him that a Judge must strictly follow the law. A Judge should be courteous to litigants, attorneys, witnesses and jurors while maintaining order and promptly deciding cases. A Judge should treat all people fairly and equally without being influenced by special interests.
Abundant Experience with Both Civil and Criminal Law
Jim has tried before a jury both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. He has also handled the complete civil spectrum of cases including will contests, personal injury, property damage & trespass, professional negligence, libel & slander, fraud, landlord/tenant, dissolution of marriage, juvenile wardship, breach of contract, foreclosures, conservatorships, taxes and real estate matters.
Call for a Balanced Bench in Shasta County
Diversity in the 10 Shasta County Trial Judges' background and experience helps ensure justice and fairness to Shasta County Residents. A fair representation from those whose prior experience is primarily criminal is a good thing. But 6 of the 10 present judges had no prior civil experience. This creates an unbalanced bench when criminal cases are only 1/2 the cases heard by the Trial Judges. Experienced Judges with civil case background, such as Jim's, are good for an efficient distribution of the civil and criminal case load.
A Stand Against Elder Financial Abuse
The largest part of Jim's practice for the last 15 years has been cases fighting financial abuse of elders. As people age, their physical and mental abilities decline, making them more susceptible to being taken advantage of financially. Although this is a crime, it is rare for the District Attorney's Office to prosecute financial elder abuse, so it falls upon private attorneys such as Jim to find a remedy for this wrong.
The Burney Court
Because he lives in Fall River Mills, Jim would happily hold court in Burney as well as in Redding. He advocates the expansion of services there. This would benefit the entire County by relieving the Redding Court of its overburdened staff and crowded space. The retention and expansion of the Burney Court is one of Jim's most passionate goals during his judgeship.
Family Man, Business Man, and Pilot!
Jim is a third generation resident of Fall River Mills. He works with his wife, Carol, who is an attorney certified as a specialist in Probate and Estate Planning, and his brother-in-law Richard K. Veres. His son, Dustin, is a telecommunication professional in Oregon. His daughter, Brooke, is in her third year of law school at Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, and plans on joining the family firm in the Fall of 2008.
Jim and Carol live on their ranch on Fall River with their llamas, goat, cat and dog. They also spend some time in the Bay Area to watch over their Lafayette law office. Jim has a pilot's license, and flies back and forth in his Cesna between the Bay Area and the Fall River Mills Airport, where he keeps his plane in a hangar.
Third Generation in Shasta County!
Jim's mother Verna has lived in Fall River Mills for decades, and, now in her 90s, still lives there today.
Here, Jim is seen with his father, who lived and died in Fall River Mills, and his grandfather, who also lived and died there.