Sheela Sonenshine was one of California’s first certified family law specialists, a pioneering trial judge and a founding justice of the California Court of Appeal’s Orange County division.
On Thursday she had the less appetizing role of witness in a San Diego fraud trial brought against her and JAMS Inc. over her online biography. Over the course of more than five hours, Sonenshine testified about the inspiration behind her legal career while rebutting accusations venture capitalist Kevin Kinsella has made about her business ventures. Her self-deprecating humor drew chuckles from jurors more than once but she also flashed temper at one point, telling her own lawyer she didn’t like the way she was being questioned.
