OC Courthouse to be named for Justice Tamura

West Justice Center to be named after first Asian American Orange County Superior Court Judge S. K. Tamura

Judge Tamura was the first Asian American attorney in Orange County, the first Asian American to serve as County Counsel in Orange County, the first Asian American Superior Court Judge and Presiding Judge in Orange County, and the first Asian American Justice on an appellate court in the continental United States. During his time on the Appellate Court, he also served as Justice Pro Tempore on the California Supreme Court until his retirement.

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While the Tamura family was interned in 1942 at the Poston Arizona Relocation Center during World War II, Tamura was permitted by the War Relocation Authority to study at Harvard School of Law in 1943.  He enlisted in the Army in 1945, serving in Italy with the all-Nisei "Go for Broke" 442nd Regimental Combat Team.