Jeffrey S. Ballinger

Partner

Jeffrey S. Ballinger is a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP's Municipal Law practice group. Mr. Ballinger's practice areas include zoning, planning and land use law; and environmental and natural resources law. He serves as city attorney to the cities of Fontana and San Jacinto, and as assistant city attorney to the City of Big Bear Lake.

Since joining Best Best & Krieger, Mr. Ballinger has represented both cities and special districts in court, at public meetings and in the course of complex land use transactions. He advises both public and private clients on matters including the Planning and Zoning law, the Subdivision Map Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, he has successfully defended land use and CEQA challenges both at the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Ballinger’s experience includes serving as legal counsel to the planning commissions of three cities, one of whom – Fontana – was recently listed as one of the top three fastest growing cities in California. He has also assisted private parties in obtaining development approvals before cities and counties throughout California.

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 law school, Mr. Ballinger received the Order of the Coif, Trial Advocacy Awards for Best Opening Argument and Best Cross Examination, and the American Jurisprudence Award for Torts. He 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 has taught courses at the University of California, Riverside, including "Effective Principles of Code Enforcement" and "Administrative Warrants." 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. He has served as president and 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," and is the co-author of "Group Homes in the Neighborhood," which appeared in the September 2006 edition of the League of California Cities Western City magazine.

Education

• University of Southern California (USC), J.D. (1999)
• University of California, Riverside, B.S. (1996)

Bar Admissions

• California (1999)

Court Admissions

• California (1999)

Awards

• Order of the Coif, Trial Advocacy Awards for Best Opening Argument and Best Cross Examination
• American Jurisprudence Award for Torts

Community Involvement

• San Bernardino Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (Pro Bono legal representation )
• Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino (Pro Bono legal representation)
• Hemet-San Jacinto Economic Development Corporation (President and board member)

Memberships

• Riverside County Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member

Authorships

• Author, "When Attorneys Serve As Local Politicians", Los Angeles Lawyer magazine
• Co-author, "Group Homes In The Neighborhood", Western City magazine (September 2006)

Panels

• Post-Conviction Justice Project