Judge Terry A. Bork

Judge Terry A. Bork has served on the Los Angeles County Superior Court since his appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 20, 2007, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lois A. Smaltz. His pre-bench career was defined by nearly two decades as a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, where he rotated through the Misdemeanor and Juvenile Units, the Central Felony Trial Unit, and the Special Investigation Division, ultimately serving as a legal advisor to the Grand Jury. Before joining the DA's Office in 1988, he spent approximately two years as an associate at McKenna, Conner, and Cuneo following his 1985 graduation from Pepperdine University School of Law. Judge Bork's documented case history reflects a sustained assignment to serious criminal matters. He presided over the 2015 stalking and weapons trial of Joshua Corbett, the man who intruded into Sandra Bullock's home, and in 2024 presided over a murder case resulting in the conviction of a Pasadena man for the killing of a 76-year-old Arcadia woman. These cases confirm his placement in felony criminal departments handling high-profile and violent-crime matters. Given his prosecutorial background spanning nearly twenty years across multiple specialized units — including grand jury advisory work — Judge Bork brings deep familiarity with criminal procedure, evidentiary standards, and investigative methodology to the bench. No ruling analyses or attorney observations are currently available, so assessments of his specific courtroom tendencies are limited to what his career record directly supports.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Bork in criminal matters should recognize that he spent nearly two decades as a Deputy District Attorney handling cases from misdemeanor and juvenile matters through complex felony trials and grand jury proceedings. His background means he has extensive firsthand knowledge of prosecutorial tactics, investigative procedures, and the mechanics of criminal charging decisions. Defense attorneys should ensure that procedural and evidentiary arguments are airtight and grounded in statute and case law, as a judge with this depth of prosecutorial experience will recognize weaknesses in legal reasoning quickly. Judge Bork's service in the Special Investigation Division and as a Grand Jury legal advisor indicates familiarity with complex, multi-layered investigations and white-collar or public-integrity matters. Attorneys handling cases with investigative complexity — whether on the prosecution or defense side — should be prepared to engage substantively with the procedural history of the investigation and the evidentiary chain. Superficial treatment of these issues is unlikely to be persuasive given his background. Because no attorney observations or ruling analyses are currently available, attorneys should independently research recent rulings from Judge Bork's department through Trellis or the court's own docket system before any appearance. Direct docket research will provide the most current and reliable picture of his current departmental assignments and ruling tendencies.

• critical

  Conduct Independent Docket Research Before Any Appearance

  No ruling analyses are available in this dataset. Pull recent rulings and minute orders from Judge Bork's department via Trellis or the LA Superior Court's online docket to identify current patterns in evidentiary rulings, motion practice, and scheduling preferences.

• critical

  Prepare Airtight Evidentiary and Procedural Arguments

  Given Judge Bork's nearly two decades as a Deputy District Attorney across multiple specialized units, any evidentiary or procedural argument must be grounded in specific statutory authority and case law. Vague or conclusory arguments are unlikely to be persuasive before a judge with this depth of criminal procedure experience.

• important

  Understand the Investigative Record Thoroughly

  His experience in the Special Investigation Division and as a Grand Jury legal advisor means he is familiar with complex investigative processes. Attorneys must be prepared to address the full investigative history of the case, including chain of custody, warrant procedures, and agency conduct.

• important

  Review the Joshua Corbett Trial Record for Courtroom Management Style

  The 2015 Corbett trial was a high-profile, media-scrutinized proceeding. Reviewing publicly available records from that case may provide insight into how Judge Bork manages courtroom decorum, media presence, and complex evidentiary hearings.

• important

  Confirm Current Departmental Assignment

  Judicial assignments in LA Superior Court can change. Confirm that Judge Bork remains assigned to the department and case type relevant to your matter before finalizing your preparation strategy.

• ›Demonstrate thorough preparation on the facts and procedural history of your case — Judge Bork's background as a trial prosecutor and grand jury advisor reflects a high standard for case mastery.
• ›Present legal arguments with specific statutory and case law citations rather than general principles, consistent with the precision expected from a judge with deep criminal procedure experience.
• ›Treat serious criminal matters with the gravity they warrant — Judge Bork's documented case history involves murder and stalking/weapons trials, and his courtroom reflects experience with high-stakes proceedings.
• ›Be prepared to address investigative procedure and evidentiary chain questions directly, given his background in the Special Investigation Division and grand jury advisory work.