Friday, June 29, 2007
Page 1
Superior Court Judges Lois Smaltz, Richard Lyman Set to Retire
By TINA BAY, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Richard W. Lyman Jr. and Lois A. Smaltz have announced their upcoming retirements from the bench.
Lyman, who steps down effective July 9, told the MetNews he has been on medical leave for an extended time and decided to “just retire and go do some other things.”
“I loved being a judge and I’m taking away a lot of satisfaction,” Lyman reflected. “I was very proud of the job that I did and that I was able to participate in the judicial system”
A particularly enjoyable aspect of his bench career was working with lawyers and watching them practice, he added.
Future Plans
While not currently scheduled to serve on any mediation panels, Lyman said he expects to start a mediation and arbitration practice servicing Southern California, particularly the Long Beach metropolitan area and the South Bay.
In addition, he said he plans continued involvement in the Joseph A. Ball-Clarence H. Hunt Inn of Court and Long Beach Bar Association, as well as the Southern California Mediation Association, which he recently joined.
Lyman, 60, has been a trial judge since 1995, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson named him to the Long Beach Municipal Court. He was elevated to the Superior Court in 2000 with the trial court unification, and has spent his entire judicial career in Long Beach.
He served as supervising judge of the South District, covering Long Beach, Catalina and San Pedro, in 2006.
The previous year, he was elected judge of the year by the Long Beach Bar Association.
Before coming to the bench, Lyman practiced real estate and general civil law for about 23 years, as the head of his own firm from 1991 until his appointment, and a name partner at Buckley, Moore, Greenberg & Lyman in Torrance from 1980 to 1990.
He was admitted to the State Bar in 1972 after earning his degree from Loyola Law School.
A graduate of UCLA, Lyman is also a credentialed schoolteacher.
Smaltz, who sits in Redondo Beach, is set to retire on Aug. 1 after 20 years on the bench.
Southwest District Supervising Judge Mark Arnold expressed disappointment over her departure:
“I’m glad for her, but I’m sorry to see her go, because someone of her caliber is going to be difficult to replace,” he told the MetNews. “She’s very bright, she’s courageous and I think she’s an excellent judge.”
Among her other contributions to the bench, Arnold remarked, Smaltz has been a mentor to many judges who handle civil calendars.
“She’s always available for other judges who have questions or ant to discuss a cases, she generally has a response and can provide good advice,” he said, calling her a “tireless” and “wonderful” member of the court.
Smaltz’s Career
Smaltz, 64, was named to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1987 and elevated to the Superior Court in 1991 by then-Gov. George Deukmejian. She served as supervising judge of the Southwest Judicial District, covering Torrance, Redondo Beach and Inglewood, in 1999 and 2000.
Prior to her appointment, Smaltz worked as partner in the Los Angeles offices of both Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Hahn, Cazier & Smaltz from 1981-1982.
From 1978-1985, she was an associate in Smaltz & Neelley, and worked for Atlantic Richfield from 1981-1982.
Smaltz was admitted to the State Bar in 1977 and is a graduate of Southwestern University law school, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award in Business Organization.
She was unavailable yesterday for comment.
Copyright 2007, Metropolitan News Company