Remarks by Court of Appeal Presiding Justice MILDRED L. LILLIE
on Jan . 9, 1993 after being presented with an inscribed gold bowl honoring her for 50 years of government service.

Ladies and gentlemen, you must know by this time that I am what is euphemistically referred to as chronologically gifted — old.

But old age has its advantages.

I have been a member of the State Bar for 55 years.

And I have lived through momentous changes in the judicial process; and through monumental social changes.

I have seen the steady increase in the number of active lawyers in this state — just under 12,000 [11,954] in 1938 — and noteworthy changes in how they practice, and their respect for the law, each other and the judicial system; and I have seen the decline of the small law firm and the sole practitioner and the development of the mega law firm.

I have witnessed the expansion of substantive and remedial law in areas of procedure, tort liability, new causes of action, protection of civil and individual rights, and so on.

And I have been part of the rapid growth of our court system in California, for example, in 1938 there were only 18 Court of Appeal justices.

 

And I have watched with pride the dramatic upsurge of women in the law, which took far too long to happen.

 

I have lived through the first world war, studied by kerosene lamp, heard the jazz of the '20s, survived the Great Depression, learned to drive in a model T-Ford, seen the advent of radio and television, witnessed the transformation of the crank telephone to the sophisticated communication of today, and watched with awe "the Perils of Pauline" and swooned to Rudolph Valentino, forerunners of the Technicolor and Technisound of the '90s.

 

And I have rejoiced in the birth of Mickey Mouse, and seen the first man in space.

 

The only things I have missed are the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 

I have received far more in my 50 years of public service than I have ever been able to give. For me, it has been an interesting, exciting, happy, professional career, and I have loved every minute of it.

 

And, I have been blessed in my personal life. It has been one enriched with the support of my late husband, Cameron Lillie, a lawyer, who gave me self confidence and started me in my career of judicial service; and with the loving encouragement and support of my present husband A.V. Falcone, also a lawyer, who has convinced me I can do anything.

 

That is a dangerous thing, but let me tell you here and now, I have learned more from my failures than from my triumphs.

 

And to my good fortune, I also acquired a son, Dewey Falcone, who practices law with his father.

 

Finally, there are two people who have made my daily work a real joy; they are the most helpful, cooperative, caring colleagues anyone could possibly have, Justice Earl Johnson and Justice Fred Woods of Division 7 of the Court of Appeal.

 

It is a privilege for me to receive this special award, and, again, I thank you. Further, the deponent sayeth not.