Michael Caves

Michael Caves has taught and designed graduate and undergraduate courses in subjects related to ethics, law, criminal prosecution, intellectual property, politics, mediation, negotiation, and public policy since 2009, with recent teaching appointments through the University of California system and law schools throughout California. Michael has written eight books, and has been published over thirty-five times in academic, literary, and research journals. Michael is also a contributing author for University of California's Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) practice guides, and has served as a reviewer or editor for a number of academic and professional journals, including the Maritime Law Journal (University of San Francisco school of law), Criminology (Wiley Online), the California Judges Benchbook Domestic Violence Cases in Criminal Court, and the California Judges Benchguide for Preliminary Hearings (CJER, Judicial Council of California). Michael was a licensed attorney and a fulltime criminal prosecutor in California for fifteen years before he won election to be a Judge on the Superior Court of California. During his years of service as a Superior Court Judge, Michael has presided over civil and criminal cases (including death-eligible cases) at various stages of litigation, including trial, and has also served as the assistant supervising judge for a criminal jury trial unit. Michael has served on Superior Court committees for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Veterans Affairs, CEQA, Civil, Grand Jury, and the Rules Committee, among other committees. Prior to becoming an attorney, Michael served on active duty in the U.S. Army for five years as an intelligence interceptor and analyst. Michael served overseas for over a year after 9/11, and is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2024, Michael was named to the Fulbright Specialist roster in law by the U.S. Department of State. Michael currently serves on the criminal law curriculum committee for the Judicial Council of California, the government relations committee for the California Judges Association, and the program committee for the American Bar Association's National Conference of State Trial Judges. Michael regularly speaks on topics related to conflict resolution, judicial ethics, and the rule of law.

Michael has a PhD in rhetoric and communication, a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), a Master of Laws (LL.M), a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Arts in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and peacebuilding, and a B.A. in communication. Michael is a member of a number of academic honor societies, including Golden Key International Honour society, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa, among others.