Commissioner Gus T. May

Commissioner Gus T. May serves at the Los Angeles Superior Court, currently assigned to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, with a background handling civil general and contract matters rooted in his East District Alhambra Courthouse assignment. Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in May 2017 as part of a significant wave of judicial appointments, Commissioner May holds a Pepperdine University School of Law degree, an institution known for emphasizing practical legal skills, professional responsibility, and a values-oriented approach to law. His commissioner status is a critical procedural consideration: unlike elected judges, commissioners serve at the pleasure of the court and may require stipulation from parties to hear certain matters, which attorneys must confirm before any appearance. Commissioner May has presided over high-profile, sensitive proceedings, most notably the conservatorship of Beach Boys musician Brian Wilson in May 2024, where he approved the conservatorship petition, and estate litigation involving actor Ed Asner in July 2022. These notable assignments suggest the court trusts him with complex, emotionally charged, and publicly scrutinized matters involving vulnerable individuals and contested estates. This pattern implies a judicial temperament oriented toward protective oversight, procedural rigor in sensitive proceedings, and comfort with media attention. A Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) record exists for Commissioner May, which is a material data point attorneys must investigate before appearing. CJP records can range from advisory letters to formal discipline, and the nature of any such record could signal specific behavioral tendencies, temperament concerns, or procedural sensitivities that directly affect courtroom strategy. Given the limited ruling data available, attorneys should treat this profile as a baseline requiring active supplementation through peer consultation and direct courtroom observation.

Attorneys appearing before Commissioner May should begin by resolving the threshold procedural question: confirm whether a stipulation is required for the commissioner to hear your matter, and ensure that stipulation is properly filed and on record before the hearing date. Failure to address this can result in wasted appearances or jurisdictional complications. Given his assignment to civil general and contract matters, expect a judge who is familiar with standard commercial litigation frameworks but who has also demonstrated comfort with equitable and protective proceedings such as conservatorships. The CJP record is the most strategically significant unknown in this profile. Attorneys should research the nature of any CJP proceedings through public records requests or the CJP's published decisions database before appearing. If the record reflects concerns about judicial temperament or ex parte communications, adjust your courtroom demeanor accordingly — be scrupulously formal, avoid any appearance of familiarity, and ensure all communications are properly noticed. If the record is merely advisory, it may still signal areas where the commissioner is sensitive to criticism. Given Commissioner May's handling of high-profile conservatorship and estate matters, attorneys in civil proceedings should anticipate a judge who takes procedural compliance seriously and who may be attuned to power imbalances between parties. Frame arguments in terms of fairness, documented evidence, and clear legal authority. Pepperdine-trained jurists often respond well to arguments grounded in professional responsibility principles and equitable outcomes, so where applicable, emphasize the broader fairness narrative alongside technical legal arguments.

• critical

  Research CJP Record Before Any Appearance

  Access the Commission on Judicial Performance's public records database and any published advisory letters or formal discipline orders involving Commissioner May. Understanding the nature of the CJP record is essential to calibrating courtroom demeanor, identifying potential sensitivities, and avoiding conduct that may have previously drawn scrutiny.

• critical

  Confirm and File Commissioner Stipulation

  Verify with the clerk's office whether a written stipulation is required for Commissioner May to hear your specific matter type. If required, prepare, serve, and file the stipulation well in advance of the hearing date. Confirm it is on record before appearing.

• important

  Consult Attorneys With Recent Appearances

  Given the absence of analyzed rulings, actively seek out attorneys who have appeared before Commissioner May in the past 12-24 months. Focus on civil general and contract matters. Ask specifically about his motion practice preferences, oral argument style, tentative ruling procedures, and any temperament observations.

• important

  Prepare Thorough Evidentiary Record

  Commissioner May's conservatorship and estate work suggests comfort with and reliance on detailed evidentiary records. For any contested matter, ensure declarations, exhibits, and supporting documentation are comprehensive, well-organized, and properly authenticated. Do not rely on oral representations unsupported by the written record.

• important

  Review Tentative Ruling Procedures for Department

  Confirm whether Commissioner May issues tentative rulings before hearings and the applicable procedures for contesting or accepting them. Stanley Mosk departments vary in their tentative ruling practices, and understanding this process will allow you to prepare targeted oral argument or waive appearance efficiently.

• Nice

  Assess Pepperdine Jurisprudential Tendencies

  Pepperdine Law emphasizes professional responsibility, practical lawyering, and values-oriented legal reasoning. Where your arguments can be framed around equitable outcomes, professional conduct standards, or fairness principles without sacrificing legal precision, consider incorporating those themes into briefs and oral argument.

• ›Confirm commissioner stipulation is on file before the hearing and be prepared to address any objection to the commissioner's authority at the outset of the proceeding.
• ›Maintain strict formality in all communications and filings — given the CJP record, avoid any conduct that could be perceived as overly familiar, disrespectful, or procedurally irregular.
• ›Be fully prepared on the evidentiary record; Commissioner May's high-profile case assignments suggest he expects attorneys to know their documents and be able to cite specific evidence in support of factual assertions.
• ›Arrive early and confirm courtroom procedures with the clerk, including whether the commissioner uses a tentative ruling system, preferred hearing formats, and any standing orders specific to the department.
• ›In sensitive or contested matters, be measured and professional in tone — Commissioner May's conservatorship experience suggests attentiveness to how parties and counsel treat vulnerable or disputed interests in open court.