---
title: Michael L. Stern
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern
---

![Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern-Michael_862b33fd1586ded50b6b4fd39cfa83fb.jpg)

# Michael L. Stern

Judge Michael L. Stern has presided over civil trial courts since his appointment to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2001. He is a frequent speaker on trial practice matters. As an attorney, he tried cases throughout the United States. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School.

### Articles written by this author:

[![Abraham Lincoln](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern-thinkstock-158750505_106060fb872ebb8c046c959feef31fc5.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-july/abraham-lincoln-2 "Abraham Lincoln")

## [Abraham Lincoln](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-july/abraham-lincoln-2 "Abraham Lincoln")

He was called Honest Abe in part because of his ethics as a lawyer for more than 25 years

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2014 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2014-july)

[![Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern-thinkstock-96943976_d76cd5a22e78c0693590d7c6545b90f4.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/abraham-lincoln-teaches-cross-examination-2 "Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination")

## [Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/abraham-lincoln-teaches-cross-examination-2 "Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination")

Reflecting on the use of Lincoln’s techniques to accomplish better outcomes in our own examination of adverse witnesses

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2015 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july)

[![What if Abraham Lincoln had lived to practice law again?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern-Lincoln-half_length-seated-April-10-1865_f31587fbf99da0b8e5b3853c9ce348a5.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-july/what-if-abraham-lincoln-had-lived-to-practice-law-again "What if Abraham Lincoln had lived to practice law again?")

## [What if Abraham Lincoln had lived to practice law again?](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-july/what-if-abraham-lincoln-had-lived-to-practice-law-again "What if Abraham Lincoln had lived to practice law again?")

A look at what history suggests Lincoln’s life might have been like had he survived the presidency

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2016 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2016-july)

## [Mark Twain tickles the legal funny bone](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-july/mark-twain-tickles-the-legal-funny-bone "Mark Twain tickles the legal funny bone")

The legendary author and humorist satirized the law to promote his ideal of justice

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2017 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2017-july)

[![Lawyer Lincoln’s trial tactics](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern_Lincoln-Brady2_a342fe7672c2dcc89d57b0ecc44eea08.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-july/lawyer-lincoln-s-trial-tactics "Lawyer Lincoln’s trial tactics")

## [Lawyer Lincoln’s trial tactics](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-july/lawyer-lincoln-s-trial-tactics "Lawyer Lincoln’s trial tactics")

How Abraham Lincoln developed his trial skills and prepared himself to persuade juries

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2018 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2018-july)

[![Lessons from my first jury trial and error](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern_iStock-515306891-revised_3fa5edff23e3fd158ecca9e5f7d29126.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-july/lessons-from-my-first-jury-trial-and-error "Lessons from my first jury trial and error")

## [Lessons from my first jury trial and error](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-july/lessons-from-my-first-jury-trial-and-error "Lessons from my first jury trial and error")

Judge Stern recalls his baptism under fire as a Federal Public Defender in an unlawful detainer eviction action in front of an impatient judge

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2019 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2019-july)

## [The craziest client I ever represented](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-july/the-craziest-client-i-ever-represented "The craziest client I ever represented")

We’ve all had one

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2020 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-july)

[![Thunderbirds forever](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/media/zoo/images/Stern_istock-1080318472_9be883fd6e80127326b90017752a63a6.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-july/thunderbirds-forever "Thunderbirds forever")

## [Thunderbirds forever](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-july/thunderbirds-forever "Thunderbirds forever")

A legal odyssey

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

[2021 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2021-july)