Judge Michael Caves has been serving on the Superior Court of California since January 2023. Before entering the judiciary, he had spent more than 15 years as a trial attorney and criminal prosecutor. J. Caves has authored nine books, including Everyday Dispute Resolution, the second edition of which was released in 2026. He is also a contributing author for the University of California’s Continuing Education of the Bar and has reviewed or edited numerous academic and professional publications. His core research is focused on judicial ethics and conflict resolution. He has also taught and designed graduate courses in law, ethics, and conflict resolution for over 17 years.
He has a PhD in rhetoric and communication, a JD (Doctor of Jurisprudence), an LLM, an MPA, an MA in negotiation, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, and a BA in communication. J. Caves is a member of a number of academic honor groups, including the Golden Key International Honour Society, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa. He is also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.