Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

 

Page 1

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Judith L. Meyer Dies

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Judith Meyer has died, after a years-long battle with cancer.

She was elected to the Superior Court in the June 6, 2006 primary, in a field of three candidates. On Aug. 11 of that year, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her to fill out an unexpired term.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel J. Lowenthal, who sits in Long Beach—where Meyer was assigned (and resided with her husband, Steve Meyer)—commented that his much-accomplished colleague, in her 59 years, “lived 100 years.”

With apparent reference to her cancer and persistent back problems, he said:

“She was physically tested again and again. But she fought, persevered, and never complained. And, throughout her valiant battle, she refused to allow her condition interfere with her unexpired work, passions, friendships, and outlook. I will forever remember her strength, humor, and kindness. I deeply miss her.”

The brother of Assembly member Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, he related he is “uplifted by the fact that the California State Assembly will adjourn in her memory and her name will then live forever in California’s official record.”

Meyer died on July 4.

Brazile Comments

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin C. Brazile, a former presiding judge, had this to say:

“Judy was an immensely talented and gifted judge who was always well prepared and she had a tremendous knowledge of the applicable law. She was a wonderful and reliable supporter of her judicial colleagues and court staff. During the judicial elections periods she one of the best and strongest supporters of a challenged judge.”

Brazile was one of the organizers of the judges’ political action committee that supports members of the court who face election challenges. He said of Meyer:

“Her support for and active participation in the LA judges PAC was enormous and simply priceless, which contributed to the success of the LA judges PAC. Her dedication and commitment to her colleagues during the judicial elections periods was exemplary.”

He added:

“I will remember her as an excellent judge who truly made a difference to the public and her colleagues due to her hard work, skill, integrity and courage.”

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Murphy provided these thoughts:

“Judge Judith L. Meyer embodied what it means to serve. She brought her generosity of spirit to the bench, her colleagues, the community and to everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her life was cut short far too soon, but the mark she left on this court and on all of us endures.” 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Pat Connolly said:

“Judge Judy will be missed. She was an excellent judge and wonderful person. When things mattered, she could always be counted on to stand up for what is right, regardless of the consequences—a most admirable trait.”

Hailed as Prosecutor

Meyer joined the Ventura Office of District Attorney as a deputy in 1994, becoming a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney the following year. Steve Cooley, was district attorney from 2000-2012, remarked yesterday:

“Judy Meyer approached her jobs as a prosecutor and as a judicial officer with enthusiasm. She carried the important lessons learned as a Deputy District Attorney to the bench but did not let that previous advocacy impact her role as a neutral.”

The reaction to news of Meyer’s death by Deputy District Attorney (“DDA”) Eric Siddall was:

“Heartbreaking. I started off as a DDA in her court. She was exceeding kind.”

Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert shared these observations:

“Judge Meyer had a great sense of humor and great sense of self. She always took time to meet with new attorneys and interns and regale them with stories from her courtroom experience. I really appreciated that she never took herself too seriously. She took the law seriously, but not herself, and she was warm and easy to speak with.  Long Beach will miss her.”

Reflections of Dean

Meyer in 1993 graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine University School of Law and was on the Dean's List there. Ronald F. Phillips, the dean emeritus at Pepperdine and its senior vice chancellor, said yesterday:

“Judith Meyer was an excellent student at our Law School, and a person of significant accomplishment. We are proud of her professional journey, and her heart for those whose lives are challenging.”

There is a widespread view that she was wrongfully treated by the Commission on Judicial Performance (“CJP”) over a matter where she was attempting to undue harm. In 2022, it publicly admonished Meyer for two letters of hers to the Long Beach chief of police.

In a criminal proceeding before her, she had accused two officers of misconduct, but then learned she had been given misinformation by a deputy public defender and, in an effort to avoid the department holding the matter against the officers, wrote the letters acknowledging her error. The commission said that her actions were “well-intentioned” but declared that she “gave the appearance” of being allied with law enforcement.

The CJP is becoming increasingly controversial over what is regarded by some as overzealousness.

In 2018, the Long Beach Bar Association named Meyer as Judicial Officer of the Year.

 

★★★★★

 

By Christopher J. Frisco 

 

(The writer is a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He sits in Long Beach.)

 

I knew Judy as my colleague when we were deputy district attorneys for the County of Los Angeles and again, as judges for the same county, in the same courthouse. 

Judy was unique. She lived life, and faced death, on her own terms. 

An excellent skier, Judy worked ski patrol and rescued many poor souls on the chilly slopes of Mammoth Mountain. She saved many a life by risking her own. Unfortunately, she could not rescue herself from that dreaded disease, cancer. 

As a judge, she spoke her mind and was brutally honest. She was not one to sugarcoat anything but said the things that had to be said, even if those words were to her detriment. 

Judge Judy, as we affectionately called her, was one tough lady. Diagnosed with stage IV cancer eight years ago, Judy refused to succumb to it. She loved life far too much than to quit. From experimental immunotherapy to chemotherapy and a host of unconventional, homeopathic therapies, Judy waged an all out war. She lived with what would have been an almost immediate death sentence to the average person. Judy was no average person.

I will always remember her refusing to miss work and rarely did so. She worked tirelessly during the day and fought cancer at night or on the weekends. 

Not unlike British judges, she donned a wig. Sometimes she wore a hat in court, but not from pomp or tradition; it was to conceal the complete loss of her hair. 

I never heard her complain even once about her condition, only about the lawyers who were not prepared or up to her standards. She was also a teacher and offered seminars on evidence. 

Judy was generous with herself and her time. She mastered the electoral procedure required of judges to apply for their new term of office. Every two years, she offered judicial seminars to educate judges on the nuts and bolts of filings, deadlines and how best to navigate the maze of the County Recorder’s Office. She even pulled the declarations of intent for many judges, collected the filing fees and filed for them. This practice continued until the most recent election, when she was suffering the most from end stage cancer. 

Judy loved life and we loved Judy. She will be missed dearly. 

Requiescat In Pace, dear friend. 

 

★★★★★

 

By Evelis M. De Garmo

 

(The writer is a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney.)

 

I knew Judge Meyer for nearly 20 years. I appeared before her hundreds of times. At the time of her passing, I was the calendar deputy assigned to her courtroom.

 Judge Meyer was very knowledgeable in the law. In fact, she sought to always follow the law and to be very well versed and up to date in the law. She published several legal books and was very proud of her contributions. She regularly sought to teach new attorneys; she loved the Socratic Method and really enjoyed teaching. Equally as important, she loved people. She was friendly to both the People and to the defense. She had an open-door policy and was always receptive to a good legal discussion, or a chat about current affairs. She absolutely adored dogs and routinely gave out stuffed animals to children who entered her court.

 More importantly, Judge Meyer had a big heart. She worked to raise up the men and women appearing before her. She tried to get defendants appropriate mental health and addiction treatment. I have heard her talk to defendants as people who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, rather than as mere criminals. She would give them opportunities to succeed, rather than simply writing them off. I have heard countless conversations between her and various defendants where she listened and engaged with them in a heartfelt and compassionate manner.

 She knew that I had adopted my children and she always asked about them and cared. Years ago, she gave each of my kids a large stuffed dog, which they were so happy to receive. Watching her grow from a young judge to a mature and very knowledgeable judge was a pleasure. She was always very kind to me, and she treated me with respect. When she was wrong on an issue, she admitted it in open court. She was open to changing her mind and was receptive to criticism. That is a very unusual trait for a bench officer.

 She was my friend and I will miss her very much. I send my love to her family and friends. She was a tremendous asset to the Long Beach bench and she is irreplaceable. Today, her court staff, and countless defense counsel and prosecutors are deeply mourning her loss.

 

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