Retired Superior Court Judge Theodore Piatt, 89, Dies

Thursday, May 21, 2026

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Retired Superior Court Judge Theodore Piatt, 89, Dies

By a MetNews Staff Writer

Retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Theodore D. Piatt, who served on the bench for 21 years, has died at the age of 89.

Piatt was hired by the court in 1981 as a Juvenile Court referee; he was appointed in 1984 by Gov. George Deukmejian to the Pomona Municipal Court; and in 1986, Deukmejian elevated him to the Superior Court. His brother, James Piatt, now a private judge, had been appointed to that court two years earlier.

An announcement of Piatt’s May 1 death was made by Presiding Justice Sergio Tapia late Tuesday. He said:

“Throughout his judicial tenure, Judge Piatt presided over a broad range of matters in courthouses throughout Pomona and Downtown Los Angeles. His leadership and dedication to the administration of justice led to his appointment as Supervising Judge of the East District in 1992 and 1993. After many years of distinguished service to the bench and community, Judge Piatt retired on July 31, 2002.

“Judge Piatt remained actively involved in the legal community throughout his career and was a member of the Eastern Bar Association of Los Angeles County, the California Judges Association, and the Bar Association of Trust Territories of the Pacific.

“Judge Piatt will be remembered for his fairness, commitment to justice, and dedication to both the legal profession and the community he faithfully served.”

A celebration of Judge Piatt’s life will be held on May 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Hillcrest Homes in La Verne.