RETIREMENT CELEBRATION of HON. PATRICIA J. TITUS “The Right Choice for Justice” Martin’s Event Center 3215 W. Manchester Ave. Inglewood CA 90305 February 25, 2025
HON. PATRICIA J. TITUS Twenty-five years ago, the People confirmed that Patricia J. Titus was the "Right Choice for Justice," and elected her as Judge of the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. With Exodus 18:21 as her foundation, Judge Titus' campaign was set apart from its inception. Because of her character, integrity, professional ability and legacy of community involvement, her candidacy garnered endorsements from a broad cross-section of national, state, and local elected officials, pastors, community leaders, judges, and attorneys. She was the first Black woman to be elected to the bench in Los Angeles County. For the past 16 years, Judge Titus has been assigned to Department 6 of the Inglewood Superior Court where she hears requests for domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders, small claims matters, and presides over the Drug Court. In honor of her 20th year as a judge and as a community service, she authored the book, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S. for LIFE: 7 Keys to Supporting Loved Ones Experiencing Domestic Violence.” Using the word “friends” as an acronym, Judge Titus educates, enlightens and empowers the reader by providing an easy-to-follow guide on how to support the family members and friends involved in abusive relationships. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Judge Titus served as the Judicial Advisor for the California Legislative Black Caucus’ Black History exhibit, “And Justice for All,” which she named. The touring exhibit, which was on display in the Capitol Rotunda in Sacramento, in San Francisco in the Great Hall of the California Judicial Council and here, in Los Angeles, at the California African American Museum, acknowledged and celebrated the 70th anniversary of the appointment of the first African American Superior Court judge and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the appointment of the first African American Appellate Court justice. In addition, she played a key role in establishing the annual dinner meeting of Black judges in Southern California. Judge Titus is a frequent participant in Career Days held at our local public and private schools and enjoys being in the position of giving youth a positive view of the courts and the American system of justice. She has served as a judge for the John C. Fremont High School and the Watts Community Teen Courts, a program designed to divert juvenile offenders from a life of crime, which is chronicled on YouTube.com under “Teen Court” and has hosted students of all ages in her courtroom during field trips to the court. Judge Titus also enjoys mentoring law students and attorneys seeking judicial positions. Prior to her election, she enjoyed a 15-year career as a criminal prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. A top-level felony trial attorney, she established a reputation for excellence in trial and received national media acclaim when she convicted a prominent Ladera Heights businessman of the domestic violence drowning murder of Delores “Dee Dee” Jackson, Michael Jackson’s former sister-in-law. In the trial of this case, she worked with the DA’s Trial Support to create a female autopsy figure so that Dee Dee’s 58 blunt force traumatic injuries could be accurately depicted. The female autopsy form remains in use to date. Prior to her trial, all victims had been depicted using a male autopsy figure. Her successful prosecution of this case was profiled on Court TV and is highlighted in the book, “For the People,” which chronicles the history of high-profile prosecutions in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office from 1850-2000. While in the DA’s office, Judge Titus wrote the first draft of legislation now known as “The Safely Surrendered Baby Law (S.B. 1368).” Under this legislation, within 72-hours of birth, a mother may surrender her newborn child confidentially at an emergency room or fire station without fear of prosecution.
Retirement Celebration of HON. PATRICIA J. TITUS February 25, 2025 Welcome Hon. Barbara R. Johnson (Ret.) Lift Ev’ry Voice Everyone Invocation Rev. Helena M. Titus, Pastor 1 st Global Methodist Church of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA * * * Dinner is served. * * * The Occasion Hon. Barbara R. Johnson (Ret.) Congratulations and Commendations Hon. James T. Butts, Mayor, City of Inglewood Hon. Timothy Weiner, Supervising Judge, Southwest District, LA Superior Court Wilda Tillman, President, LA Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Rhotunda Conda, President, Harbor Area Chapter, The Links, Incorporated Guest Comments Maximum 2 mins. per speaker Introduction of Retiree Hon. Barbara R. Johnson (Ret.) Reflections, Expressions of Gratitude, & Acknowledgments Hon. Patricia J. Titus (Ret.) The Blessing of Judge Titus Pastor Kevin and Dr. Naima Lett, Co-Pastors Hope in the Hills Church, Beverly Hills, CA & all members of the clergy Benediction Dr. Naima Lett
Throughout her career, Judge Titus has received numerous recognitions and honors including the Black Judges Annual Dinner Founders Award (2024), the John M. Langston Bar Association’s Hall of Fame Award (2021), Woman of the Year Award by the California State Assembly (2017), the 22 Powerful Women in Red Award (2015), and the California Association of Black Lawyers’ Judicial Award of Excellence (2012). Judge Titus is a charter and life member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers, a life member of the California Association of Black Lawyers (“CABL”) and the Judicial Council of CABL, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc., and the John M. Langston Bar Association. She is a current or past member of the American Bar Association Judicial Council, California Judges Association, National Bar Association Judicial Council and the National Association of Women Judges. Judge Titus is one of the judges featured in the book entitled, “Black Judges in America,” published by the National Bar Association and one of the featured authors in the American Bar Association’s publication, “Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters” which provides advice and wisdom to women embarking upon careers in the legal profession. Judge Titus is a past president of Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Inc., a former trustee of and the first Black woman elected to the board of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and a former board member of the National Bar Association, California Association of Black Lawyers, California Women Lawyers, John M. Langston Bar Association, Multicultural Bar Alliance, and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. Judge Titus was born and raised in Los Angeles. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in Political Science and her juris doctorate from the UCLA School of Law. The UCLA School of Law Black Law Students Association bestowed its Alumni Achievement Award on her in 2007. Judge Titus is also a Registered Parliamentarian and a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians, the American Institute of Parliamentarians, the Electronic Association of Parliamentarians, the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers, the California State Association of Parliamentarians, the Green Gavel Electronic Unit, the Chi Eta Phi Unit and the Kanuni Unit. Judge Titus is a member of The Links, Incorporated where she serves as the Western Area Parliamentarian and is a member of the Harbor Area (CA) Chapter. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter where she serves as the chapter parliamentarian. She is a member of Toastmasters International with the designation of Distinguished Toastmaster and served as the 2024 Toastmasters International Parliamentarian. Last summer she was presented with the Roy D. Graham Lifetime Achievement Awarded for distinguished service by District 1 of Toastmasters International. In her free time, Judge Titus enjoys bible study, listening to gospel music, home decorating, papercrafting, shopping, traveling, playing tennis and riding her Peloton. Recognizing that God gave her the victory twenty-five years ago on March 7, 2000, so that His name would be glorified and that He called her to be His judge because she knows the letter of the law and understands the spirit of the law, Judge Titus endeavored to render justice with wisdom and compassion every day in her courtroom. Your presence here today is a testament to the fact that she was faithful to His call. She looks forward to what the Lord has in store for her in the next chapter of her life and is excited to embrace new opportunities to use her education, training, and judicial experience to serve the community in the days, months, and years to come. Stay tuned! Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. Exodus 18:21 NKJV