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Thurman W. Arnold III

Founding Attorney
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Bio

Thurman III is a Palm Springs' native. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon in 1974, earning its "Certificate of Excellence." Steve Jobs was a "Reedie" during that era. In 1979 Thurman graduated with Honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He next attended the Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, where he helped edit its nationally recognized Environmental Law Journal. He earned his Juris Doctorate in June, 1982.

In November 1982 Thurman joined his father's Palm Springs legal practice, established in 1953. Formerly a civil trial lawyer with considerable jury experience, today Thurman's energies are devoted to using these skills in helping people to move through the fraught emotional and financial complexities that plague the breakup of intimate relationships.

Protecting rights and resolving disputes is an Arnold tradition spanning 185 years. Thurman is a fifth generation attorney. His grandfather, Thurman Arnold Sr, authored a number of books on law and economics realism that remain in print today, and taught at the Yale Law School from 1930 to 1938 together with his lifelong friend, William O. Douglas - one of the great liberal United States Supreme Court Justices of our time. In 1938 President Roosevelt appointed Thurman Sr. Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division for the U.S. DOJ. And so, Thurman Sr. took aim at the bullies like Standard-Oil and other mega-companies that had helped to bring about the Great Depression.

[George Arnold; Frances Arnold; Jasmine's Earlier Incarnation who attended Thurman Srs.' Yale law school classes; Thurman Arnold Jr.; Thurman Sr. Circa 1939]

In 1943, Arnold was appointed to become a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, succeeding Wiley B. Rutledge, who had been promoted to the U.S. Supreme Court. He was "kicked upstairs" by FDR to the Court of Appeals in order to get him out of the Antitrust division. Although it had some responsibility for review of decisions by federal administrative agencies, during Arnold's tenure the court's primary role was reviewing decisions of local trial courts involving routine civil and criminal matters arising in Washington, D.C. Thurman's grandfather was not happy during his time on the court, resigning after two years on the bench. In explaining his decision, he notably remarked he "would rather be speaking to damn fools than listening to damn fools."

In 1946 Thurman Sr. formed the Washington D.C. Law Firm of Arnold, Porter & Fortas. In the 1950's this law firm stood alone against Senator Joseph McCarthy by representing government employees, Hollywood writers and personalities, and private citizens who were prosecuted falsely or unfairly as alleged communists, pro bono. Arnold, Porter & Fortas became Arnold & Porter in 1965, when Abe Fortas was appointed by President Johnson to the United States Supreme Court. Arnold & Porter was then and now a law firm that early on honored diversity, hiring people of all genders and background based upon merit - and nothing more.

Thurman III strives to do honor to that impressive legacy, as part of his DNA.

He is a vigorous writer with a passion for "The Internet of Everything Divorce" and family law. All content on this website, including our Enlightened Divorce Blog™, is our own. He wants to guide and assist you!

A note to self-represented parties, and family law attorneys throughout the State of California: Mr. Arnold is moving his part of our practice, as he ages, into a supportive role for family law legal consulting work and Second Opinions. As always, these are confidential! Would your matter benefit from a fresh set of eyes?

When he is not working his butt off for our beloved clients, Thurman is busy taking pictures of birds and other vulnerable creatures! Visit his Flickr page!



Licenses, Memberships, Honorifics and Public Service



Give Thurman a Google or Yelp search to see others' reported experiences and the reviews with our law firm. We are very proud of our track record - we've earned it, consistently!

Bird

Thurman is an avid photographer.

  • LGBTQ+
  • Martindale Gold 2021
  • Martindale 2021
  • California Certified (CBLS)
  • Client Distinction - Thurman
  • Coachella Valley's Top lawyers
  • AAML
  • Super Lawyers - Michael
  • AV Preeminent - 2015
  • Avvo Rating - Superb Top Divorce Attorney
  • Super Lawyers - Thurman
  • Yelp

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