Summary Biography for George S. Cole

By George S. Cole

This summary of my background and short exposition about my vision and character, may at least enable some evaluation of my relative skill with written English.

Legal Experience: Litigation associate, Cooper, White & Cooper 1981-82; contract attorney & solo practice, 1982-1984 (ins. defense, PI, computer contracts, probate); solo practice, 1988-1998 (computer & technology transactions; copyright, trade secret, and trademark transactions and litigation; minor amounts of PI and will drafting); patent prosecution, 1998- (computer, software, communications, and mechanical).

Other Experience: Consultant, hypertext & object-oriented programming, Apple Computer (1987); developer of legal software (1987-95); lawyer for smaller startup software companies (1989-on); American Arbitration Association panelist 1989-1995; President, Palo Alto Area Bar Association 2001-2002 (preceded by service as Vice President, Treasurer, and Board member); and Judge pro tem, Santa Clara County, 2000 to present (Traffic, Settlement Conferences, and Small Claims).

Other Achievements: Registered U.S. Patent Attorney #40,563, August, 1997; received U.S. Patent 7,019,632 March 28, 2006; Black Belt, Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, 2000; happily married; resident in Palo Alto from 1981-87, in Menlo Park since; and currently owner of two dogs, a Sheltie and a Corgi.

Hobbies and Interests: History, Travel, San Jose Rep, and a `satiable curiosity'.

Views:

We need judges with a dual background in law and science, if we are to smoothly integrate technology with our legal system, to mesh science and the law, to interweave human creativity and human truths. Santa Clara County is a lead venue for both civil and criminal cases where high technology plays a major, even principal, role in our courts; yet do we have any judges with an advanced degree in any science, or any degree in computer science? Having such a dual background -- and more to the point, having come to it first through the law, and then earning a Masters in Computer Science -- I believe I can best help our community through public service as a judge.
I learned that my passion is less for advocacy than it is for justice. What was fair and equitable mattered more to me than winning or losing a particular case. I also believe in leading through my own actions. These, taken together, led me to the realization that I should try to become a judge. My service as a pro-tem tested and confirmed that I had the necessary breadth of experience, and mix of skills and character, to so serve.
Through prosecuting patent applications, I have learned both how to rapidly assimilate and master extensive, complex, and highly technical material, and to express myself with a degree of precision. I have even managed to retain a fair amount of humor, good nature, and (I hope) at least some humility -- personal characteristics which I believe would greatly assist me as a judge. For I also believe that the title, `Honorable' must be earned each day. I want to be a judge because I want to make our legal system work for us all; and I respectfully ask you for the privilege of such service.