Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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LASC Judge David S. Cunningham III to Retire
By a MetNews Staff Writer
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DAVID S. CUNNINGHAM |
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Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Cunningham III’s last day on the bench will be April 14, after completing precisely 17 years of judicial service.
After using earned vacation days, he will officially retire May 15.
“I will likely engage in private judging,” he related.
The most publicized controversy with which he was involved was not one he presided over but, rather, was one in which he was a potential plaintiff. UCLA campus police on Nov. 23, 2013 arrested the judge for driving without a seatbelt and he filed a claim against a governmental agency, alleging excessive force.
On July 11, 2014, it was announced that the dispute was settled with $150,000 going to Cunningham and his lawyer, Carl Douglas, and $350,000 being devoted to a scholarship in the judge’s name.
A condition of the settlement was the continuation of diversity training for officers and the holding of a one-day “Community Forum/Day of Dialogue conference” at UCLA Law School.
UCLA said in a statement:
“Judge Cunningham is a distinguished jurist, lawyer and advocate for equity, inclusion and opportunity. Both parties are eager to use this as a teachable moment that provides greater insight into important issues, increased educational opportunities and improved relations between law enforcement and the public. This civic-minded agreement serves the best interest of the entire community and settles the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.”
A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Cunninghan was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1983.
He served as a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 2001-05 and was its president in 2003. His 2009 appointment to the Superior Court was made by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The judge’s father was a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1973-87. David Cunningham Jr. died in 2017.
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