About Us - Founder and Chancellor
Honorable Emil Gumpert

Born and raised in Stockton, California, Emil Gumpert was admitted to the California bar in 1916 and served as a trial lawyer in Stockton for more than 30 years. He went on to serve as a judge in the Superior Court of California from 1956-196?, as well as serving as State Bar president and officer for numerous professional organizations.

It was in 1950 that he conceived the idea of creating a new organization of lawyers that would comprise the very best of the profession. He envisioned a group of attorneys who shared a love and respect for the law and would be bound by their common experiences in the courtroom. Thus, the American College of Trial Lawyers was born. Over the next 32 years, until his death in 1982, the Hon. Emil Gumpert served in various leadership capacities for the College including President, Chairman of the Board of Regents and Chancellor-Founder. During his tenure at the College and throughout his more than half-century professional career the Hon. Gumpert substantially and effectively devoted himself to the administration of justice and to the improvement of trial practice.