Jeffrey S. Ballinger

Partner

Ontario
3500 Porsche Way
Suite 200

TEL: (909) 483-6644
FAX: (909) 944-1441
Jeff.Ballinger@bbklaw.com

General Bio
Comprehensive Code Enforcement
Zoning, Planning and Land Use

Special Districts Practice

Jeffrey S. Ballinger is a Partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP's Public Law Department.  Mr. Ballinger's practice areas include Local Government, Special Districts and Environmental & Natural Resources Law. Mr. Ballinger currently serves as City Attorney for the City of San Jacinto and Assistant City Attorney for the Cities of Fontana and Big Bear Lake.

Prior to joining Best Best & Krieger LLP, Mr. Ballinger worked at the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office in the writs and appeals department.  He also worked at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, gaining daily courtroom experience.  In addition, while attending law school, Mr. Ballinger served as a judicial intern for Bankruptcy Judge Mitchell Goldberg.

Since joining Best Best & Krieger LLP, Mr. Ballinger has represented both cities and special districts in court, at public meetings, and in the course of complex transactions.  He frequently advises City Councils, Planning Commissions and other governing boards on Brown Act matters.  Mr. Ballinger also advises his public agency clients on matters including the Political Reform Act, Public Records Act and the Planning and Zoning law.  In addition, he has successfully defended land use and CEQA challenges to his public agency clients, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Mr. Ballinger received his undergraduate degree in Sociology/Law & Society from the University of California, Riverside.  He received his Juris Doctorate degree at the USC School of Law.  During his legal education, Mr. Ballinger also received the Order of the Coif, Trial Advocacy Awards for Best Opening Argument and Best Cross Examination, and the American Jurisprudence Award for Torts.  Mr. Ballinger also participated in the Post-Conviction Justice Project and was a Staff Member and Article Editor for the Southern California Law Review.

Mr. Ballinger is a member of the American Bar Association and the Riverside County Bar Association where he twice served as an Attorney Evaluator in its High School Mock Trial Competition. He also teaches courses as an instructor at the University of California, Riverside. Mr. Ballinger also provides Pro Bono legal representation to the San Bernardino Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and the Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino. Mr. Ballinger also serves on the Board of Directors of the Hemet-San Jacinto Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Ballinger recently co-authored an article appearing in Los Angeles Lawyer magazine entitled, "When Attorneys Serve as Local Politicians."

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1999

Education

• JD, University of Southern California Law Center
• BS, University of California at Riverside