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Judges Blackshaw, Herscovitz, Linfield to Retire From Los Angeles Superior Court in Late June

By a MetNews Staff Writer

MICHAEL P. LINFIELD

Superior Court judge

Three Los Angeles Superior Court judges—Julie Fox Blackshaw, Michael P. Linfield, and Martin L. Herscovitz—will be officially retiring at the end of June.

One of them, Linfield, departed the court on May 20 and is using up earned vacation days. He will formally leave on June 28, as will Herscovitz, who will actually end his tenure on the bench June 13.

Blackshaw will hang up her robe on June 14 and has set an official retirement date of June 29.

Longest serving among the retiring judges is Herscovitz. He was appointed on Oct. 22, 2001, by then-Gov. Gray Davis.

At the time, he was a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, a post he gained in 1979.

Herscovitz received his law degree from UCLA in 1975.

The judge said in an email that he is presently “out of town” and cannot comment on his plans until he returns June 10.

Linfield’s Appointment

Two years after Herscovitz was placed on the bench, Davis conferred a judgeship on Linfield, then a sole practitioner. He was previously an associate at Alschuler, Grossman, and Pines.

While a law student at Harvard, he interned from 1987-88 with the chief justice of Nicaragua’s Supreme Court of Justice. Linfield was awarded his law degree in 1989.

Prior to undertaking law studies, he was chief lobbyist for the United Farm Workers of America and served a stint as deputy mayor of the City of West Hollywood.

The Court of Appeal for this district on April 23, 2020, reversed a $13 million judgment against The Regents of the University of California in a gender discrimination case in part because Linfield “delivered a presentation to the jury highlighting major figures in the civil rights movement, and told the jury their duty was to stand in the shoes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.” Then-Justice (now Presiding Justice) Maria Stratton of Div. Two wrote that Linfield’s overall conduct pointed to the judge’s “inability to remain impartial and created the impression that the court was partial” to the plaintiff’s claims.

Below is a photo, provided by Linfield.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael P. Linfield is seen at age 13 standing between civil rights leaders Ralph Abernathy, left, and Martin Luther King Jr. King was the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Abernathy succeeded him upon his assassination.

Blackshaw’s Appointment

Blackshaw was appointed to the Superior Court on May 21, 2013, by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. She was then 59.

At the time, she was deputy counsel to then-Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a post she had held since 2010.

Since graduating from Hastings College of Law, Blackshaw has been an associate at Sellers Connor and Cuneo (1979-82); legislative assistant to a future U.S. secretary of defense, then-Rep. Leon E. Panetta, D-San Joaquin Valley (1982-83); an associate at Overland Berke Wesley Gitts Randolph and Levanas (1983-84); an associate at Tuttle and Taylor (1984-87); and an assistant U.S. attorney (1987-94).

JULIE BLACKSHAW

Superior Court judge

After corruption at the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department came to light, an inquiry was conducted by the Independent Review Panel of the Police Commission. Blackshaw served as deputy general counsel to the panel in 2000, She was then a federal court special master from 2002-10. On Monday, Blackshaw reflected: “I have so many fond memories from Children’s Court, where I have been assigned for my entire judicial career. It is true that families initially arrive at the court amidst sadness and trauma. But, over the course of each case, there are many meaningful and joy-filled events to celebrate—like when a parent regains sobriety and children can return home; when a foster child gets into college; or when a child is adopted by a wonderful forever family.

“My other fond memories are of my colleagues—an enormously dedicated, wise, helpful, and supportive group. I’m fortunate to have worked with such amazing judicial officers.”

As to her plans, she said:

“Most of the time, I hope to be hiking, playing piano, reading, traveling and visiting my children. I will also serve on occasion as a temporary assigned judge at the Children’s Court.”

Blackshaw added:

“I am very appreciative of the opportunity to serve in Children’s Court. It has been a great privilege to serve families in need, all for the purpose of making children’s lives safer and better. It’s been a very enriching and gratifying experience.”