Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Page 3
County Coroner’s Office Confirms Judge Buckner’s Death Was Suicide
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has closed its investigation into the death of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alan G. Buckner, ruling it a suicide, an investigator told the MetNews yesterday.
The investigator said an autopsy completed yesterday confirmed the preliminary conclusion that Buckner, who was pronounced dead by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics early Sunday morning, died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
The autopsy also confirmed that 65-year-old jurist had a cancerous prostate. Buckner underwent surgery for the condition nine months ago.
Colleagues of the judge, who presided over a civil court downtown, said his collegiality and friendship would be missed.
“Alan Buckner was one of the most congenial, down-to-earth people I ever met,” Superior Court Judge Craig Veals said. “I found him to be a true gentleman and a wonderful colleague. I will especially miss his wonderful wit, sense of humor and encouraging ways.”
Buckner had been a Superior Court judge since 1995 when then-Gov. Pete Wilson named him to the court. He had previously practiced law for 28 years, primarily in insurance matters, including bad-faith defense, subrogation, and coverage issues.
Buckner earned his undergraduate and law degrees from UCLA. He served on the State Bar’s standing committees on administration of justice and group insurance, and taught under the auspices of Continuing Education of the Bar.
He began his career at Long & Levitt in 1967. He moved to Schwartz & Altschuler in 1971, then spent several years with Bogert, Ehrmann, Halpern, Haille & Buckner before opening a solo practice in Marina del Rey.
Copyright 2004, Metropolitan News Company