LOS ANGELES - Superior Court Judge Armen Tamzarian has a unique claim to fame that few bench officers can boast: His name is featured in an episode of The Simpsons. It all started in a segment that explores the backstory of the school principal, Seymour Skinner, where it is revealed that his real name is actually "Armin Tamzarian".
"It's me," the judge said, still amused by the unexpected turn of events.
The connection to the show has followed him everywhere. "At airports, I've had security stop me and kind of snicker, 'Are you related to "The Simpsons?"'" Even in his civil unlimited courtroom at Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, where he manages a daunting load of 800 cases, it comes up. "I've had a member of the jury raise their hand and ask, 'Do you have anything to do with "The Simpsons?"'"
Despite this and the sheer volume of cases he handles -- double what it was a decade ago when he presided over a law and motion and trial calendar at Alhambra Courthouse -- Tamzarian finds his work deeply fulfilling. "When I have trials, I work seven days a week," he said. "Here, I handle the case from beginning to end. It's massive."
For Tamzarian, upholding the rule of law is paramount. He recalls a moment from his days as a family law judge, a tenure that began soon after Gov. Jerry Brown named him to the court in 2013 and lasted five and a half years. A man he ruled against thanked him afterward. "I just issued a restraining order -- why is he thanking me?" Tamzarian wondered to himself. The man explained, "Well, you really listened to me. You gave me a fair hearing."
Reflecting on that moment, Tamzarian said, "That was one of the best days I had as a judge because I thought, 'OK, I did my job.' Having somebody have faith in the system matters."
He also believes jury selection is a critical opportunity to involve the public in the judicial process. "A lot of jurors walk out feeling better about the system," he said.
Nowadays, Tamzarian deals with a wide range of cases, from small matters to complex civil litigation involving large sums of money. "I love learning new things about the law all the time. It's an intellectual feast," he said, but he's quick to point out that he understands he's not just engaging in an intellectual exercise. "What we do here affects the lives of real people, and we shouldn't look at it as merely an intellectual exercise."
Tamzarian usually starts every morning with an 8:30 calendar session to organize the cases. If he is not in trial, he begins law and motion proceedings at 9 a.m. "I try to find a practical solution to the problem. A lot of these discovery battles don't end up really having any impact on the outcome of the case," he said.
When a trial is underway, his focus shifts entirely to the courtroom, where he thrives on the drama of it all, and the opportunity to engage with jurors.
Charles L. Murray III of West Hollywood has had two cases in front of the judge, one especially contentious. "Probably one of the best on the bench," he said of the judge. "Very thoughtful and thorough. He tries to resolve discovery issues, and he sees the big picture of the case. He's very smart and very cerebral."
"Because he has a big view of the case," Murray continued, "he will kind of forecast what his rulings will be and give thoughts on what his analysis would be. That makes us say to other attorneys, 'Do we want to fight over things?'"
Murray also praised Tamzarian for his judicial temperament. "He doesn't get bogged down with all the minutiae."
"Very good judge. Intelligent and hard working," Scott L. MacDonald of MacDonald & Cody LLP wrote in an email. "It is a pleasure to be in his courtroom given his level of dedication to his position, his work ethic, and his dedication to fairness. He treats everyone in the courtroom with respect and professionalism."
MacDonald added, "If attorneys appear prepared and conduct themselves in a civil and professional manner, Judge Tamzarian will reciprocate and will ensure that there is a fair administration of justice."
Andrew B. Brettler of Berk Brettler LLP tried a case before Tamzarian 18 months ago. "He is a very practical judge; not one to put form over substance, although he ran a tight ship when it came to the attorneys' pre-trial submissions. In particular, he spent significant time working on jury instructions with counsel and had the attorneys in for multiple pre-trial conferences until he was satisfied with the joint filings."
Brettler said he and his co-counsel, Kelsey Leeker, thought the judge was fair because his rulings throughout the proceedings, including the trial, "were well-reasoned."
"Following the trial, Judge Tamzarian complimented Ms. Leeker on her courtroom skills, as it was her first jury trial," Brettler continued. "Most judges would not have gone out of their way to offer praise and words of encouragement to the attorneys appearing before them the way Judge Tamzarian did with my colleague."
The judge said he encourages attorneys to be concise and thoughtful in their legal writing. "Shorter is better. More thoughtful motions are better," he advised. Detailed tentative rulings, though time-consuming, are crucial to his process. "Writing helps me figure out the right answer," he said. It is a habit he developed during his time as a senior and lead lawyer at the 2nd District Court of Appeal, drafting proposed opinions. There, he learned, "If it doesn't write, it's not right."
Because of his past work as an appellate attorney and, most recently, sitting by designation as a pro tem on the Court of Appeal, Tamzarian rarely gets reversed. "I don't want to be immodest, but I have a very good track record," he said.
Born in Kuwait, the judge came to the US from Lebanon as a small boy, and grew up in Wayland, Massachusetts. His last name is traced to a single ancestor in 19th Century Armenia. After so many people were killed during the Genocide of 1915 to 1917, anyone now named Tamzarian is related to him either by blood or marriage, he said. .
That is why his inclusion on "The Simpsons" was baffling at first. In an episode entitled "The Principal and the Pauper" from the show's ninth season, it is revealed that Skinner, the beloved principal of Springfield Elementary, is actually an impostor who took the identity of the real Armin Tamzarian, a soldier he met while fighting during the Vietnam War.
Puzzled, Tamzarian wrote to the show to find out how they came to give Skinner that name. Writer and producer Ken Keeler responded that he had met the judge many years earlier when Tamzarian was working as an insurance claim adjuster. Keeler said he thought the name was cool and decided to work it into the show. Keeler offered to write the name out of the show.
"He thought I wanted to sue him or something because I was a lawyer," Tamzarian recalled. "But I wrote another letter saying, 'No, I don't want to sue you. I just want to know.'"
"It's my best cocktail story!" the judge said.
When not telling stories at cocktail parties, Tamzarian enjoys cooking at home and exploring Los Angeles' food scene with his wife.
Here are some of Judge Tamzarian's recent cases and the attorneys involved:
Santos Laguna S.A. de C.V. v. The Walt Disney Company et al., 20STCV49367 - contractual fraud
For plaintiff: Terry L. Wit, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP
For defendants: Wes Earnhardt, Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP; John W. Spiegel, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP
OHL USA Inc. v. Pacific Steel Group, 21STCV39035 - other contract dispute
For plaintiff: Armenak Kavcioglu, Pierce Kavcioglu Espinosa & Cesar LLP
For defendant: David A. Perkins, San Diego
Simers v. Los Angeles Times Communications LLC et al., BC524471 - wrongful termination
For plaintiff: Carney R. Shegerian, Shegerian & Associates
For defendants: Michael N. Schonbuch, Daniels Fine Israel Schonbuch & Lebovits LLP; Linda M. Savitt, Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt LLP
American Honda Finance Corp. v. R&H Automotive Group Inc., 20STCV13190 - breach of rental/lease contract
For plaintiff: Bryan K. Sheldon, LimNexus LLP
For defendant: Sassan Masserat, Beverly Hills
Andrade v. Leolo Inc. et al., 20STCV01699 - other employment complaint
For plaintiff: Matthew M. Sichi, Finnegan & Diba
For defendants: Charles M. Murray III, West Hollywood