Hon. Cynthia A. Ludvigsen (Ret.)
Hon. Cynthia A. Ludvigsen
San Bernardino County Superior Court, Retired
Judge Cynthia Ludvigsen joins ARC after serving for 20 years on the San Bernardino Superior Court and sitting by assignment for two years. She has vast experience resolving probate, trust and estate matters after presiding over court and jury trials in the Probate Department for more than a decade. She previously served in the Civil and Family departments. Known as an intelligent, meticulous and fair jurist who reads everything presented to her, she is committed to listening carefully and understanding each party's position.
ORGANIZATIONS & ACHIEVEMENTS
- Past Member, California Judicial Council Probate & Mental Health Advisory Committee.
- Instructor in judicial fairness and access to the courts for various programs taught to judges through California Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER).
- Past Member, CJER Fairness Education Committee, Planning Committee on Language Access to the Courts Conference and member of the curriculum development committee for training pro tem judges.
- Chair, Community Outreach Committee, San Bernardino Superior Court, for 12 years.
- Past Member, Kleps Award Advisory Committee to the California Judicial Council.
- Member, California Judges Association; served on various committees, including the Probate and Mental Health Committee.
- Member, San Bernardino County Bar Association since 1979.
- Taught real property classes in paralegal program at University of California, Riverside.
- Former treasurer and member of the Board of Governors, California Women Lawyers (1980s).
- Former member, Condemnation Attorneys Group.
PRACTICE AREAS
Probate and civil litigation (particular expertise in real property, eminent domain, and land use).EXPERIENCE
While assigned to the Probate Department, Judge Ludvigsen handled hundreds of estate and trust matters, including trust administration and litigation, will contests, interpretation of wills and trusts and elder abuse disputes, both trials and settlements. She also presided over hundreds of conservatorship cases, including jury trials on competency, and handled conservatorship, trust and estate accountings.Judge Ludvigsen also presided over numerous civil cases and tried both jury and non-jury cases, in matters involving eminent domain, medical malpractice, personal injury, employment, business and contract disputes and partnership and business dissolutions. During her family law assignment, she handled separation of marital assets involving businesses and professional practices and other matters.
Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Ludvigsen was an attorney with an Inland Empire law firm and a sole practitioner. She specialized in real property litigation, particularly land use, eminent domain, environmental law, water rights and zoning. She represented both private parties and public entities. She handled municipal and public law matters both at trial and on appeal. She frequently worked with experts such as appraisers, engineers, geologists and environmental consultants.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- J.D. with honors, The George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, D.C., 1978
- B.A. with high honors, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., Journalism and American Studies, 1974
Judge Ludvigsen is available throughout California.
