Judge Richard Bloom

Judge Richard H. Bloom is a relatively new addition to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom on January 31, 2023, to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Hon. Sherilyn P. Garnett. He began his judicial career in the Family Law Division. His pre-bench career is extensive and spans multiple sectors: a private law and consulting practice from 1978 to 2005, executive leadership at the Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center (a nonprofit focused on family law services), and executive work at People Assisting the Homeless. He holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley. Before joining the bench, Bloom spent over two decades in elected public office — thirteen years on the Santa Monica City Council (1999–2012), including service as Mayor and Mayor pro Tempore, followed by a decade in the California State Assembly representing the 50th District (2012–2022). In the Assembly, he chaired the Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation and served on multiple committees. This legislative and municipal background distinguishes him from judges who came exclusively from litigation or transactional practice. Because no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are currently available, no patterns in his judicial decision-making, courtroom management style, or ruling tendencies can be reported at this time. The guidance below is grounded solely in his verified biographical and career data.

Judge Bloom's decade-long tenure as a California State Assemblymember — including chairing a budget subcommittee — indicates familiarity with policy-driven reasoning, statutory construction, and legislative intent. When arguing statutory interpretation issues before him, attorneys should be prepared to engage with the legislative history and stated purpose of the relevant statutes, as his background reflects sustained engagement with the legislative process. His executive directorship at the Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center, a nonprofit providing family law services, and his initial judicial assignment to the Family Law Division suggest meaningful exposure to family law matters from multiple vantage points — as a practitioner, as a nonprofit administrator serving underrepresented clients, and as a judicial officer. Attorneys in family law matters should be prepared for a judge with substantive familiarity with the practical realities of family law proceedings. His thirteen years on the Santa Monica City Council, including service as Mayor, reflect experience presiding over public proceedings, managing competing interests, and reaching decisions in a public forum. Attorneys should be prepared for a judge who is comfortable managing courtroom proceedings and who has a background in civic and community-oriented decision-making. No ruling data is available to confirm specific procedural preferences, so attorneys should confirm current local rules and standing orders directly with the court.

• critical

  Obtain and Review Current Standing Orders

  No procedural preferences or standing orders are documented in the current dataset. Attorneys must obtain Judge Bloom's current standing orders directly from the Santa Monica Courthouse clerk or the court's website before any appearance.

• critical

  Research Recent Rulings via Trellis or CourtNet

  Because this dataset contains zero ruling analyses, attorneys should independently search Trellis, CourtNet, or the court's own docket system for any tentative rulings, minute orders, or decisions issued by Judge Bloom since January 2023.

• important

  Prepare Statutory and Legislative History Arguments

  Given his Assembly background and committee experience, attorneys arguing statutory interpretation should prepare thorough legislative history materials and be ready to discuss the purpose and intent behind the relevant statutes.

• important

  Confirm Current Department Assignment

  Judge Bloom began in the Family Law Division. Attorneys should confirm his current department and subject matter assignment at Santa Monica Courthouse, as judicial assignments in LA Superior Court can change.

• important

  Consult Attorneys with Recent Santa Monica Courthouse Experience

  In the absence of documented observations, consulting colleagues who have recently appeared before Judge Bloom is the most direct way to obtain current intelligence on his courtroom management style and preferences.

• ›Confirm all procedural requirements and filing deadlines directly with the court clerk, as no standing orders or local preferences are documented in this dataset.
• ›Be prepared for a judge experienced in presiding over public proceedings from his City Council tenure — maintain professional decorum and expect orderly, structured proceedings.
• ›When making statutory arguments, be prepared to address legislative intent and the practical policy context of the statute, consistent with his legislative background.
• ›Do not assume informality based on his public-service background; treat all proceedings with full professional formality until direct observation or attorney reports indicate otherwise.