About Mike Montes
Mike Montes Jr. began his academic path at Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1977. He returned to legal studies later and received a J.D. from Glendale University-College of Law in 1992. The gap between degrees marked a shift from business roles into law. That transition shaped the varied résumé that followed.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Montes took a role in the energy services sector. He is listed as a senior partner at Garcia Well Services and Drilling, Inc. in 1984. That experience gave him early exposure to operational and managerial challenges outside a courtroom. He later turned to law, finishing law school in the early 1990s and entering the legal profession.
Montes established his own legal practice in 2001 under the name MONTES & ASSOCIATES, where he is described as Lawyer at Law. His career has included a mix of private practice and short-term judicial service. In 2013 he served as a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court, handling matters assigned to temporary magistrates and gaining direct experience overseeing bench proceedings. The pro tem role added judicial perspective to his work as an advocate.
He is admitted to practice in California and has appearances in several federal courts, including the Eastern and Central Districts of California and the Southern District of Texas. He is also admitted to the Ninth Circuit. Those admissions indicate litigation across both trial and appellate levels. Montes’s record shows a practice that moves between state trial courts and federal forums depending on client needs.
Colleagues and courtroom observers note that Montes brings practical business experience to legal questions. His time in industry and later years in private practice give him a view of disputes that includes operational and commercial realities. That background is relevant in matters where business operations and legal obligations intersect.
His work has involved representing clients in court and conducting hearings before judges and administrative officers. Serving as a judge pro tem added to his familiarity with courtroom procedures and case management. He has also managed a small firm practice and the responsibilities that come with running an office.
As of 2026, Montes continues to practice law through MONTES & ASSOCIATES and maintains admissions in state and federal courts across California and the Ninth Circuit, as well as the Southern District of Texas. He represents clients in matters brought in those forums and handles litigation and related court work as part of his current practice focus.
