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Judge John Messina Jr.

Category: Judges

Judge Messina is a partner with the law firm of Kelly Lytton & Williams LLP and has top-executive-level, hands-on experience as a broker, real estate developer, and mortgage banker.

Armed with a lengthy record of experience in the field, including litigating numerous convoluted and difficult cases, Messina brings a perspective to the bench which immediately garners trust and confidence in those who appear before him.

Judge Messina serves as an active commissioned California Reserve Peace Officer and holds the rank of Reserve Lieutenant. He works patrol, undercover investigations, and is a member of his department’s bike team. Messina served as a Special Deputy United States Marshal who worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigations Division (USEPA-CID) and was directly involved in a number of high profile cases. He has represented various police agencies with issues involving California Peace Officer Standards & Training, Law Enforcement Agency Compliance and Formation, and Law Enforcement on Tribal Land. Judge Messina served as General Counsel to the National Latino Peace Officers Association from 1994 to 2004.

Additionally, Messina is an adjunct instructor for the United States Indian Police Academy and teaches Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country (CJIC) to tribal law enforcement officers who wish to obtain and maintain their Special Law Enforcement Commissions (SLEC) through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services.

Judge Messina received his Bachelor of Arts degree in management with distinction from the University of Redlands and his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School. He has written numerous articles and feasibility studies in the areas of real estate, contracts, law enforcement, and governmental fiscal responsibility. Also, in addition to his other published works, Judge Messina authored California Commercial Lease Purchase Agreement Line by Line, which was published by Thomson Reuters/Aspatore in 2009.