Honorable James Kaddo
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge
State of California
Judge James A. Kaddo was born in Zgharta, Lebanon and emigrated to the United States in 1950 to join his family who had left Lebanon four years earlier. Born Jamal Kaddo Moawad, his name, like many other Lebanese immigrants, lost something in the translation.
He began his undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles, transferred and graduated from UC Berkeley, with a BA degree in Political Science/International Relations in 1956. As a reward for his educational achievements he was immediately drafted into the US Army; being from Zgharta it was decided he was perfectly suited for warfare. Serving two years on active duty and four years on inactive duty, he was honorably discharged in 1958.
In 1958, Judge Kaddo entered the University of Southern California School of Law. In 1959, he took a leave of absence from his studies and returned to Lebanon to marry Souad Kaddo and start his family. Returning to USC, he resumed his law studies and received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1963. Judge Kaddo immediately started the practice of law, first with partners and later as his own firm until his appointment as a Judge by Governor George Deukmejian in December 1990.
As a lawyer, Judge Kaddo distinguished himself as a trial and business lawyer and specialized in real estate developments and investments. He is however, just as proud of his active involvement in the American Lebanese community—socially and politically. He was a founder, president or board member of practically all of the Lebanese and Arab American organizations both locally and nationally. He was President of the William Neima Republican Club, President of World Lebanese Cultural Union, President and Founder of the LA Chapter of the ADC, President and Founding member of the Arab American Lawyers Association, Board and founding member of the Lebanese American Foundation and Honorary Founding Member of the Beirut-LA Sister City Program. He counts the formation of the Lebanese Ladies Cultural Society among his proudest accomplishments.
A Los Angeles resident, Judge & Mrs. Kaddo have 4 daughters, Emily, Muna, Nadia and Rima. His most gratifying moments are spent with his five grandchildren.
Since his appointment, Judge Kaddo has been elected to the LA Superior Court on several occasions and will be due for re-election next year. He currently sits as a Superior Court Judge on the LA Superior Court Unlimited Civil Division in Van Nuys, California.