Wednesday, August 25, 2010
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Superior Court Judge Eudon Ferrell Retiring Next Month
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eudon “Don” Ferrell is retiring next month, the MetNews learned yesterday.
A court spokesperson confirmed that Ferrell, who is currently on vacation but is due to return for a few days before his retirement becomes official, will leave office Sept. 16, his 70th birthday.
Ferrell, a native of Alabama who grew up in Arizona, was appointed to the now-defunct Inglewood Municipal Court by then-Gov. Pete Wilson on June 12, 1996. He was elevated to the Superior Court through unification in January 2000.
His retirement will end a public service career of nearly five decades.
Ferrell served three years in the military before joining the Los Angeles Police Department in 1962. He rose to the rank of lieutenant before retiring in 1983.
He attended Whittier College School of Law while still with the LAPD and graduated in 1974.
He became a Los Angeles deputy city attorney when he left the LAPD and eventually became supervising assistant in the Pension Section, serving until his appointment to the bench. He was also a Los Angeles County Bar Association trustee and a member of the National Bar Association, California Association of Black Lawyers and the Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles.
He became a trustee of the John M. Langston Bar Association early in his career and served as president of the association in 1993.
Judge John Meigs said he would be sorry to see his longtime friend, whom he met through the Langston Bar Association when both were relatively new lawyers, leave the bench.
“It’s been my pleasure to serve with him for the past 14 years,” Meigs told the MetNews, noting that he was presiding judge of the Inglewood court in 1996 and swore Ferrell in.
“I’ve tried to get him to postpone” retirement, but Ferrell thought it was time for a break, Meigs explained, although he is hoping Ferrell will eventually agree to serve on assignment.
“He has always been one who gives freely of his time, going to speak to community organizations,” Meigs noted. “Whenever student groups tour the courthouse, he takes them into chambers and talks to them about life decisions....He’s an asset not only to the bench but to the community.”
Copyright 2010, Metropolitan News Company