Partner Profiles

Ackerman, Cowles & Associates

Richard D. Ackerman, Founding Partner

Actively Practicing Attorney since 1994

Chief Civil Litigator: Lively, Ackerman & Cowles (2003-2006)

Managing Partner: Ackerman, Cowles & Lindsley (Present)

(951) 308-6454 Tel. / (951) 308-6453 Fax.

livelyackerman@aol.com

General Counsel, Murrieta-Temecula Republican Assembly

Executive Committee Member, Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation

Member, Riverside County Bar Committee on Continuing Legal Education

President/Co-Founder, The Pro-Family Law Center (Nonprofit)

Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) Affiliated Attorney

Volunteer, Riverside County Superior Court

Certified Mandatory Fee Dispute Arbitrator (RCBA)

Elks Lodge Member, Presiding Justice, BPOE Lodge 2801 (Temecula)

Constitutional Rights Foundation Scoring Attorney

Mr. Ackerman was born in May of 1969 and was raised in Southern California. He is married to his wife Stefanie and has four children (2 girls 2 boys).

He is admitted to practice law in California. He is also admitted to federal practice before the Southern District of California, Central District of California, Northern District of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He has represented the interests of parties before every court to which he is admitted and has appeared pro hac vice in Tennessee and Nevada USDC. He has also successfully represented parties before the United States Senate Press Gallery, United States Senate Rules Committee, United States Department of Education, California Unemployment Appeals Board, California Department of Consumer Affairs (Medical & Chiropractic Boards), and California State Board of Equalization.

As part of his commitment to the promotion of justice, Mr. Ackerman also assists victims' families in attending Parole Board hearings so that violent criminals can remain accountable for their actions. He has assisted in promoting justice at the San Quentin State Prison and San Luis Obispo Men's Colony.

From 1994 until 2001, Mr. Ackerman maintained a private practice in the areas of complex business litigation, business formation, and related areas of law. He assisted international diplomats (while working with Maxwell E. Lin & Associates as of counsel), small business, and corporate entities with their legal needs here and abroad. During this time he continued to advise physicians and lawyers on medical malpractice liability issues.

In January of 2001, Mr. Ackerman joined the United States Justice Foundation (USJF) as an appellate and litigation attorney responsible for coordinating public interest litigation, discovery, preparation and trial of civil rights matters. He was also responsible for drafting legislative analyses and opinion letters on issues of public interest.

Mr. Ackerman’s career has blessed him with the opportunity to represent the legal interests and policy positions of National Lawyer’s Association, National Federation of Republican Assemblies, Focus on the Family, Citizens for Better Government, Capitol Resource Institute, Campaign for California Families, Women’s Resource Network, Salt & Light Network, Pro-Family Law Center, Liberty Counsel, California Public Policy Foundation, U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, California Senator Ray N. Haynes, California Senator Tom McClintock, California Assemblyman Dennis Hollingsworth, the government of Taiwan, and many others throughout the United States and abroad.

In 2003, Ackerman returned to the private practice of law and started the nonprofit Pro-Family Law Center with fellow partner Scott Lively. In 2006, the firm became Ackerman, Cowles & Lindsley. The firm emphasizes it practice in the areas of complex business litigation, family law, general business and real estate law, and complex probate. The firm has quickly become a premier firm in the Temecula Valley area.

Mr. Ackerman’s work has earned him the Beverly Clark Civil Rights Award, Pacific Justice Institute's John R. Parker Award, the Malachi Award, and other special recognition in the area of civil rights and religious freedom. He has thrice testified before the California Legislature on the issues of traffic mitigation, parental rights, preservation of the traditional family unit, and on same-sex marriage. Locally, he testified before the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on the preservation of the historic Riverside County Superior Courthouse after it was threatened with legal action to remove historical quotes from engravings in the courthouse walls. Ackerman ultimately prevailed in a lawsuit brought by his office to protect the courthouse. Additionally, he helped to draft successful legislation for Senator Hollingsworth's office that changed the way public records and courtroom evidence are viewed in light of technological developments and new forms of communication.

Mr. Ackerman is a published author in the area of philosophy and has served as a contributing writer on legal and social issues to the Conservative Voice, Whistleblower Magazine, and WorldNetDaily.com.

Ackerman has defended positions on the U.S. Constitution before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States Supreme Court, represented Republican legislators and consumers during California’s electricity crisis, helped draft legislation to protect children from sexual abuse, fought for the First Amendment, testified before the California State Legislature to defeat same-sex marriage legislation, fought before the Supreme Court to prevent the spread of AIDS, fought for religious liberty, and has defended many other important causes that protect American civil liberties.

He has handled nine California Court of Appeal matters through final decision (inc. NTLC v. Schwarzenegger, Clancy v. O'Connell), served as lead counsel in two United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals published opinions (Friery v. LAUSD), and has represented parties and friends of the court at the Ninth Circuit and United States Supreme Court levels (Lawrence v. Texas, Newdow v. U.S. Congress, ACLU v. Ashcroft, GNEA v. Hicks, and others).

He has also proudly served as a member of a variety of local and national social organizations which support patriotism, family, and community values.

AWARDS/RECOGNITION:

Congressional Order of Merit (NRCC)

John R. Parker Award (Defense of Family) (Pacific Justice Institute)

Republican Presidential Honor Roll (NRCC)

National Leadership Award (National Business Advisory Council)

Certificate of Appreciation (Texas Justice Foundation)

Certificate of Appreciation for Volunteer Service to Riverside County Superior Court

Beverly Clark Civil Rights Award (NCCRA)

Malachi Award for Pro-Life Work (ORW)

Four American Jurisprudence Awards (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing)

* Torts

* Family Law