Magazine Archive
To the Court, We Say, Thank You
This edition of Contra Costa Lawyer is dedicated to the judges, past and present, that have served the Contra Costa community.
Read ArticleFive Courthouses and the History Behind their Namesake Judges
Contra Costa County is home to five courthouses which are named after five judges who served on the court. Two of the five judges were elevated to the First District Court of Appeal. In this article we recount the history of each courthouse and their namesake judges. WAKEFIELD TAYLOR COURTHOUSE 725 Court Street, Martinez The...
Read ArticleAll Rise: Reflections from Newer Judges
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to transition into the role of Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County? I polled some judges appointed over the last three years for their thoughts on the job so far. Thank you to Hon. Jennifer Lee, Hon. H. Glenn Kim, Hon. Ayana K. Young, Hon....
Read ArticleThe Gavel Rests: A Conversation with Our Retired Judges
As the sun sets on the illustrious careers of those who have upheld the scales of justice, they enter a new chapter where reflection and wisdom take center stage. We caught up with a handful of legal luminaries who have recently entered the hallowed halls of retirement—to glean insights from their years of service. Now,...
Read ArticleThe Contra Costa Legal Community –Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
It was my first day of work at the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office in October 1973. As I drove through the Caldecott tunnel on my way to Martinez, I would learn the entire legal community had been in a state of flux since 1953. The first clue was my office on the fourth...
Read ArticleA Complete List of the Judges in Contra Costa County
The list of Superior Court judges includes some who started out in Municipal Court. This consolidation was the result of a state initiative in the June 2, 1998 election. * indicates the date the judge was elevated to a higher court District Judges John Watson 1850-1851 Craven P. Hester 1851-1853 Elisha McKinstry 1853 –...
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