Joseph Grodin
Encyclopedia
Joseph R. Grodin is a lawyer and former appellate and Supreme Court judge in the state of California.
(1960).
Upon earning his law degree, he became a partner at the law firm of Brundage Neyhart Grodin & Beeson in 1955. He practiced law there until 1972, when he became a professor at the Hastings College of the Law. He entered public life in 1979 when then-Governor Jerry Brown
appointed him to the California Court of Appeals. He served in that position until 1982. when Brown appointed him to the California Supreme Court.
On the court, Grodin compiled a solid liberal record, voting mostly with Chief Justice Rose Bird
. He was considered supportive of trial lawyers and defense attorneys, while seeming skeptical of law enforcement and business interests. He was opposed to the death penalty. This approach caused controversy, and Bird and Brown had become unpopular with a public which was frustrated with a rising crime wave.
In California, state judges are on the ballot for confirmation, with the option of confirming or removing the judge. In 1986, Bird had become highly controversial and unpopular, with politicians denouncing her in their campaigns, including Governor George Deukmejian
. Opponents of Bird succeeded in linking Grodin and another justice, Cruz Reynoso
, to her. The campaign against them cost $7 million and made the death penalty a central issue. Grodin was rejected by the voters by a 57% to 43% margin.
After leaving the court, Grodin returned to the Hastings College of the Law, where he remains today. He has also authored several books.
Biography
Grodin is a graduate from the University of California in Berkeley (1951) and from Yale University (1954). In addition, he has a PhD from the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(1960).
Upon earning his law degree, he became a partner at the law firm of Brundage Neyhart Grodin & Beeson in 1955. He practiced law there until 1972, when he became a professor at the Hastings College of the Law. He entered public life in 1979 when then-Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
appointed him to the California Court of Appeals. He served in that position until 1982. when Brown appointed him to the California Supreme Court.
On the court, Grodin compiled a solid liberal record, voting mostly with Chief Justice Rose Bird
Rose Bird
Rose Elizabeth Bird served for 10 years as the 25th Chief Justice of California. She was the first female Justice, and first female Chief Justice, on that court, appointed by then Governor Jerry Brown...
. He was considered supportive of trial lawyers and defense attorneys, while seeming skeptical of law enforcement and business interests. He was opposed to the death penalty. This approach caused controversy, and Bird and Brown had become unpopular with a public which was frustrated with a rising crime wave.
In California, state judges are on the ballot for confirmation, with the option of confirming or removing the judge. In 1986, Bird had become highly controversial and unpopular, with politicians denouncing her in their campaigns, including Governor George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
. Opponents of Bird succeeded in linking Grodin and another justice, Cruz Reynoso
Cruz Reynoso
Cruz Reynoso is a civil rights lawyer, professor emeritus of law, and the first Chicano Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court . He also served on the California Third District Court of Appeal...
, to her. The campaign against them cost $7 million and made the death penalty a central issue. Grodin was rejected by the voters by a 57% to 43% margin.
After leaving the court, Grodin returned to the Hastings College of the Law, where he remains today. He has also authored several books.
Books
- California State Constitution: A Reference Guide (Reference Guides to the State Constitutions of the United States) Greenwood Press (1993) ISBN 978-0313272288
- Collective Bargaining in Public Employment West Publishing (1993) ISBN 978-0314018625
- Public Sector Employment: Cases and Materials West Group West Group Publishing (2004) ISBN 978-0314263643
- In Pursuit of Justice: Reflections of a State Supreme Court Justice University of California Press (1989) ISBN 978-0520066540
- Silver Lake (High Sierra Hiking Guide, No 17) Wilderness Pr (1983) ISBN 978-0899970271