Monday, September 21, 2026
Page 1
Retired S.C. Justice Joyce Kennard Dies
By a MetNews Staff Writer
|
|
|
JOYCE KENNARD 1941-2026 |
|
|
Joyce L. Kennard, one of the longest-serving justices in the history of the California Supreme Court, has died, the Judicial Council announced Friday.
She was 85.
Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero commented:
“Justice Kennard’s life was a testament to resilience, and she brought that same strength to 25 years of service to this court. She carefully analyzed the law, studied the facts, and strived to protect fundamental freedoms and promote the independence of the judiciary.
“Her rigor on the bench and her extraordinary personal journey continue to inspire attorneys and judges.”
Kennard was born in Indonesia to parents of Dutch, Indonesian, Chinese, and German descent. As a young child during World War II, she and her family were held in a Japanese internment camp.
As a teenager, she had her leg amputated after developing a tumor and wore a prosthetic for the rest of her life. She immigrated to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, where she worked as a secretary while pursuing her education.
She earned an associate’s degree from Pasadena City College, then a bachelor’s degree, a master’s in public administration, and a law degree, all from the University of Southern California.
Kennard began her legal career as a California deputy attorney general, later, served as a senior attorney for Court of Appeal Justice Edwin F. Beach of this district’s Div. Two.
Gov. George Deukmejian appointed her to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1986, to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 1987, to the Court of Appeal for this district in 1988, and to the Supreme Court in 1989. She was the second woman and the first person of Asian descent to serve on the state’s highest court.
During her 25 years there, Kennard developed a reputation for independence and was known for her rigorous questioning during oral arguments. She retired from the court in April 2014.
At the last oral argument session in which she participated, then-Justice Marvin Baxter, now retired, described Kennard’s life as “a successful effort to overcome extraordinary challenge and adversity” and noted her “record of achieving success against all odds.” He offered this tribute:
“ ‘Dedication’ is a word that perfectly applies to Justice Kennard. Whether they agree or disagree with her on particular cases, her colleagues know she has given each and every one her thoughtful, sincere, and scholarly attention. And drawing upon her own remarkable life experience, she has striven always for excellence, fairness, and the correct rule of law. This is her only agenda, and no one works harder to get it right. And for these qualities, she has earned the highest respect of her fellow justices.”
In her letter to then-Gov. Jerry Brown announcing her retirement, Kennard wrote:
“Any success I achieved could have happened only in America, a land that encourages impossible dreams, a land where one can succeed against all odds.”
Copyright 2026, Metropolitan News Company