Judge Pat Morris
Encyclopedia
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Morris is an American
politician
. He is currently the mayor
of San Bernardino, California
. He currently resides in San Bernardino with his wife Sally Morris. They have two children, Katie Willis, and Jim Morris. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
, along the Colorado River, where his father worked for the railroad. He graduated at cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of Kappa Sigma Sigma
at the University of Redlands
. He received his law degree
from Stanford Law School
and was admitted to the California State Bar on June 5, 1963.
's Board of Education. He helped found the San Bernardino Boys and Girls
Club.
appointed Morris to the San Bernardino County Superior Court in 1976. For three years, he served as San Bernardino County's first full-time Family Law Supervising Judge and organized the court's first Family Law Department. From 1981 to 1984, he served as the Superior Court Presiding Judge. During this time, Morris was named Inland Southern California's Trial Judge of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice.
For the next five years, Morris served as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court
. As Presiding Judge, he established the San Bernardino County Children's Network - a comprehensive interagency networking system to coordinate and enhance services to high-risk children. In July 1991, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges awarded Morris its highest award for Meritorious Service to the Juvenile Courts of America.
In 1990, Morris returned to the criminal courts and soon thereafter he established one of California's first drug treatment court programs. Since then, Morris has advocated statewide, nationwide and internationally for treatment alternatives for non-violent addicts in the criminal justice system. Morris has twice been invited to the White House
to discuss the issue of Drug Courts, and he has presented the Drug Court program to international conferences at the United Nations, and in Ireland, England and Italy. Following the model of the Drug Courts, in 1999, Morris established one of the nation's first Mental health courts
to treat the seriously mentally ill caught in the criminal justice system.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is currently the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. He currently resides in San Bernardino with his wife Sally Morris. They have two children, Katie Willis, and Jim Morris. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Early life
Morris spent his early life in Needles, CaliforniaNeedles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
, along the Colorado River, where his father worked for the railroad. He graduated at cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of Kappa Sigma Sigma
Kappa Sigma Sigma
ΚΣΣ is a local fraternity which was founded in 1916 at the University of Redlands. The fraternity headquarters is known as the "Bird House" and it is located at 1235 Sylvan Blvd. Kappa Sigma Sigma currently has 25 active members and a well organized alumni association of over 1,000...
at the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
. He received his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School is a graduate school at Stanford University located in the area known as the Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California in the United States. The Law School was established in 1893 when former President Benjamin Harrison joined the faculty as the first professor of law...
and was admitted to the California State Bar on June 5, 1963.
Career
He served in the Army Reserve for three years. For three years he served as a San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney. He left the District Attorney's Office to enter private practice law, primarily family law. During his time in private practice, Morris served on the San Bernardino City Unified School DistrictSan Bernardino City Unified School District
San Bernardino City Unified School District, in San Bernardino County, California, serves most of the city of San Bernardino and a portion of Highland...
's Board of Education. He helped found the San Bernardino Boys and Girls
Boys and Girls
Boys and Girls is Bryan Ferry's sixth solo album, released in 1985 by EG Records. It remains Ferry's only number 1 solo album in the UK and contains two UK top 40 hit singles...
Club.
Judge
California Governor Jerry BrownJerry 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 Morris to the San Bernardino County Superior Court in 1976. For three years, he served as San Bernardino County's first full-time Family Law Supervising Judge and organized the court's first Family Law Department. From 1981 to 1984, he served as the Superior Court Presiding Judge. During this time, Morris was named Inland Southern California's Trial Judge of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the administration of justice.
For the next five years, Morris served as Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court
Juvenile court
A juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
. As Presiding Judge, he established the San Bernardino County Children's Network - a comprehensive interagency networking system to coordinate and enhance services to high-risk children. In July 1991, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges awarded Morris its highest award for Meritorious Service to the Juvenile Courts of America.
In 1990, Morris returned to the criminal courts and soon thereafter he established one of California's first drug treatment court programs. Since then, Morris has advocated statewide, nationwide and internationally for treatment alternatives for non-violent addicts in the criminal justice system. Morris has twice been invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
to discuss the issue of Drug Courts, and he has presented the Drug Court program to international conferences at the United Nations, and in Ireland, England and Italy. Following the model of the Drug Courts, in 1999, Morris established one of the nation's first Mental health courts
Mental health courts
Mental health courts link offenders who would ordinarily be prison-bound to long-term community-based treatment. They rely on mental health assessments, individualized treatment plans, and ongoing judicial monitoring to address both the mental health needs of offenders and public safety concerns of...
to treat the seriously mentally ill caught in the criminal justice system.