Walter Desmond
Encyclopedia
Walter J. Desmond was a lawyer
, Postmaster
, and Public Works
Commissioner
in Long Beach, California
before serving as a Judge
on the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Court of Appeal
.
Born to Irish
immigrants in Worcester, Massachusetts
, Desmond graduated from Harvard University
in 1898 and Harvard Law School
in 1901. He practiced law in Boston for four years before moving to Long Beach, California in 1905. He was admitted to the California State Bar
in February 1906, and opened a law office in town. When oil was discovered in Signal Hill
in 1921, a large part of his practice was devoted to drawing oil leases. He served as Long Beach Postmaster and was later appointed Public Works Commissioner for the City of Long Beach.
He was appointed Judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor C.C. Young on August 3, 1927 and served until April 11, 1934, when he took an appointment from Governor Rolph
as an Associate Justice
for the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3. After serving for a little more than six months in that position, he accepted an appointment to return to the bench on the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Merriam
on November 1, 1934. On January 2, 1943 he was appointed Presiding Justice
of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3 by Governor Olson
. He retired from the bench on July 1, 1948.
Desmond died at the age of 75 in Long Beach, California on May 13, 1951.
The Knights of Columbus
Council #3449, located at 5459 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, is named after Judge Walter Desmond.
His son Walter Jr. (1909-2007) was an attorney and judge for nearly 60 years in Long Beach. He served as president of the Long Beach Bar Association, and as a judge pro tem of the Long Beach Municipal Court from 1970 to 1983.
Another son, Gerald
(1915-1964), was a prominent Democrat
politician and civic leader who served as a Long Beach City Council
member and as Long Beach City Attorney
. The Gerald Desmond Bridge
which opened in 1968 and connects Terminal Island
and Long Beach, was named in his honor.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
, and Public Works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
before serving as a Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
on the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Court of Appeal
California Court of Appeal
The California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided into six appellate districts...
.
Born to Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrants in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Desmond graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1898 and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1901. He practiced law in Boston for four years before moving to Long Beach, California in 1905. He was admitted to the California State Bar
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
in February 1906, and opened a law office in town. When oil was discovered in Signal Hill
Signal Hill, California
Signal Hill is a small city in California located in the Greater Los Angeles area. Signal Hill, completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach, was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered in Signal Hill. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
in 1921, a large part of his practice was devoted to drawing oil leases. He served as Long Beach Postmaster and was later appointed Public Works Commissioner for the City of Long Beach.
He was appointed Judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor C.C. Young on August 3, 1927 and served until April 11, 1934, when he took an appointment from Governor Rolph
James Rolph
James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to a single term as the 27th governor of California from January 6, 1931 until his death on June 2, 1934 at the height of the Great Depression...
as an Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
for the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3. After serving for a little more than six months in that position, he accepted an appointment to return to the bench on the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Merriam
Frank Merriam
Frank Finley Merriam was an American politician who served as the 28th governor of California from June 2, 1934 until January 2, 1939...
on November 1, 1934. On January 2, 1943 he was appointed Presiding Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division 3 by Governor Olson
Culbert Olson
Culbert Levy Olson was an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, Olson was involved in Utah and California politics and was elected as the 29th Governor of California from 1939 to 1943.-Personal background:...
. He retired from the bench on July 1, 1948.
Desmond died at the age of 75 in Long Beach, California on May 13, 1951.
The Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
Council #3449, located at 5459 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, is named after Judge Walter Desmond.
His son Walter Jr. (1909-2007) was an attorney and judge for nearly 60 years in Long Beach. He served as president of the Long Beach Bar Association, and as a judge pro tem of the Long Beach Municipal Court from 1970 to 1983.
Another son, Gerald
Gerald Desmond
Gerald "Jerry" Desmond was a prominent Democratic politician and civic leader in Long Beach, California who served as a Long Beach City Councilmember and as Long Beach City Attorney....
(1915-1964), was a prominent Democrat
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...
politician and civic leader who served as a Long Beach City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
member and as Long Beach City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
. The Gerald Desmond Bridge
Gerald Desmond Bridge
The Gerald Desmond Bridge is a through arch bridge that carries four lanes of Ocean Boulevard from Interstate 710 in Long Beach, California, west across the Cerritos Channel to Terminal Island...
which opened in 1968 and connects Terminal Island
Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island located in Los Angeles County, California between Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Originally a mudflat known to the Spanish as Isla Raza de Buena Gente, and later called Rattlesnake Island, it has officially been Terminal Island since 1918...
and Long Beach, was named in his honor.
External links
- California Courts - The Judicial Branch of California
- Los Angeles Superior Court
- Knights of Columbus Council 3449 - Judge Walter Desmond