Ruth Ellis
Staff Writer
11/10/2009
    
    After serving as a Lassen County Judge for a little more than 23 years, Presiding Judge Stephen Bradbury, has announced his retirement effective Sunday, Jan. 31.
    Bradbury announced his retirement in a letter to court staff on Monday, Nov. 2.
    In the letter, Bradbury said of his decision to retire, “This comes with mixed feelings and awareness that there probably never is a ’right’ time to close a career, but also with the knowledge that the court, and you, will be left in good condition.”
    He said, “It is easier to leave you when our court is in strong financial shape to weather the current fiscal difficulties of state government without furloughs or layoffs. Our project for a wonderful new Hall of Justice is moving toward its fourth and final year with actual construction scheduled to begin in July. Our dedication to facilitate the public’s access to justice is reflected in projects and services beyond that of any other court in the state. Our juvenile justice outreach programs have grown and succeeded beyond our hopes, and with you, the heart and soul of our court, being the best, most competent and nicest staff a presiding judge could hope to lead.”
    Bradbury was elected to the office of superior court judge in 1996 and has been presiding court judge since January 1997.
    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be appointing a person to fill the vacancy until  the person elected into office during the November 2012 general election takes office.
    A press release from the Lassen County Superior Court says while court staff was sad to hear about Bradbury’s retirement, they are unanimous in their appreciation for Bradbury’s fairness, honesty, and integrity that have made it both an honor and a pleasure to work at the superior court and extend their best wishes for Bradbury’s retirement.
    Bradbury and his wife Karen plan to divide their retirement between their Standish ranch and their home in Walt Disney’s town of Celebration, Fla.
    After working in private practice and as a corporate counsel in Lassen County, Bradbury was elected Judge of the Lassen County Justice Court in 1986 and became the first Municipal Court Judge in 1994.
    According to the press release, Bradbury was also the last justice court judge and the last sole superior court judge of Lassen County.
    The Chief Justice of California has annually appointed him the presiding judge of the Consolidated Appellate Division of Lassen, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra counties since 2004.  
    Since 1992, Bradbury has been a member of the faculty of the California Judicial College, which is held at the University of California, Berkeley every year.
    He has also been a member of the faculty of the National Judicial College located at the University of Nevada, Reno, since 2001.
    In 1999, Bradbury was elected to a three-year term on the Executive Board of the California Judges Association. In 2001 he was elected to lead the judges and justices of California as President of the California Judges Association for 2001-2002. From 2002 to 2006 Bradbury sat on the Executive Board of Governors of the U.C. Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association. He has been involved in State Judicial Branch Governance and held a seat as an advisory member on the California Judicial Council in 2001-2002.  
    Bradbury is active in several community service organizations, and has been the Vice-President of the Nevada Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America for several years.
    He is a 1976 graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and became a member of the State Bar of California. He was then admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of California and Eastern District of California, and the United States Supreme Court.