David Eagleson

David Newton Eagleson (October 4, 1924 – May 23, 2003) was an American lawyer who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from 1987 to 1991.

David Newton Eagleson
From left to right: Justice Marcus Kaufman, Eagleson, Justice Joyce Kennard, and Chief Justice Malcolm Lucas
Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
In office
March 18, 1987 – January 6, 1991
Appointed byGovernor George Deukmejian
Preceded byJoseph Grodin
Succeeded byMarvin R. Baxter
Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Five
In office
November 11, 1984 – March 18, 1987
Appointed byGovernor George Deukmejian
Personal details
Born(1924-10-04)October 4, 1924
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedMay 23, 2003(2003-05-23) (aged 78)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Spouse
Virginia Mae Brown
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1980)​
Alma materUSC Gould School of Law (LL.B.)

Biography

Eagleson was born in Los Angeles, California, and educated in the public schools. After serving in World War II, Eagleson earned his law degree from the USC Law School in 1950.[1][2] On June 6, 1951, he was admitted to the State Bar of California. Eagleson then practiced law in Long Beach, California for 20 years.[3]

In December 1970, Governor Ronald Reagan appointed Eagleson to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, where from 1980 to 1981 he served as presiding judge.[4][5][6][7] From 1979 to 1980, he was president of the California Judges Association.[3][8] In November 1981, Governor George Deukmejian named Eagleson as an associate justice to the Court of Appeal, Second District, Division Five.[3]

In March 1987, Governor Deukmejian appointed Eagleson as an associate justice to the Supreme Court. A conservative Republican, Eagleson was elevated to the high court after voters removed liberal Chief Justice Rose Bird and two of her allies from the Court in the 1986 general election as a result of the trio's opposition to capital punishment.[9][10] Eagleson tended to uphold capital sentences.[11] During his four years on the court, Eagleson wrote 54 majority opinions. Among Eagleson's notable opinions is Thing v. La Chusa (1989),[12] which sharply limited the availability of the cause of action for negligent infliction of emotional distress in California.

After stepping down from the high court, Eagleson practiced as a mediator and arbitrator in Los Angeles.[3]

Personal life

On May 16, 1953, Eagleson married Virginia Mae Brown,[13] and they had two daughters, Elizabeth K. Eagleson, an attorney, and Victoria Eagleson, who both reside in Southern California.[14] Beth, in her eulogy for her father delivered before the court on which he once served, cited Thing as the opinion most representative of her father's voice and philosophy:

When I read Thing v. LaChusa, I recognized not only Dad’s life philosophy, but I heard his voice . . . . For those of you who never knew him, but want to know what kind of man he was, read Thing v. LaChusa. Dave Eagleson is there and will tell you everything you need to know.

References
  1. "100 Years of USC Law: You Be the Judge". University of Southern California Law School News. May 1, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  2. "On the move: USC people, making news, making an impact". University of Southern California Law School. August 7, 2000. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. "David Eagleson—justice of state Supreme Court". San Francisco Chronicle. May 24, 2003. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. "Bowl Blackout Is OKd". Desert Sun. California Digital Newspaper Collection. UPI. 25 November 1972. p. B2. Retrieved September 18, 2017. Superior Court Judge David N. Eagleson
  5. "Los Angeles Bathers Can Sun in Nude, Judge Rules". Jet Magazine. Johnson Publishing Company. August 15, 1974. p. 29. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  6. "Court Battle Opens Over Hughes Estate". Desert Sun. California Digital Newspaper Collection. UPI. 22 April 1976. p. A1. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  7. "Ballot Measure Prop. 6 would cut jury size". Belvedere Citizen / Eastside Journal. No. 42. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 15 October 1980. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  8. "High Court to Honor Eagleson in Opening Local Session". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. September 16, 2003. Retrieved September 18, 2017. He served as assistant presiding judge of the court in 1979 and 1980, and as presiding judge for two years after that, and served simultaneously as president of the California Judges Association for one year while assistant presiding judge.
  9. "Deukmejian Names 3 To State Supreme Court". New York Times. February 19, 1987. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  10. Luther, Claudia (May 24, 2003). "David Eagleson, 78; Justice Brought Practical, Professional Approach to State High Court". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  11. Hager, Philip (May 12, 1989). "Judge Erred but Justices Rule Death Verdict Valid". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  12. Thing v. La Chusa, 48 Cal. 3d 644, 667 (1989).
  13. "David Eaglesons on Honeymoon Trip". Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, CA). Newspapers.com. May 24, 1953. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  14. "Utility Sues in Theft of Power". Los Angeles Times. January 1, 1989. Retrieved September 18, 2017. Beth Eagleson, San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s corporate attorney

See also
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