Congrats to Beds!

Judicial Council Announces 2024 Distinguished Service Award Recipients -- Award recognizes people and organizations for their extraordinary leadership and contributions to the administration of justice in California

The Judicial Council of California today announced three recipients of its 2024 Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes people and organizations for their extraordinary leadership and contributions to the administration of justice in California. This year’s recipients of the California judicial branch’s highest award are Justice William W. Bedsworth, Judge Terry B. Friedman (Ret.), and Melissa Fowler-Bradley. “This year’s recipients demonstrate what it means to be a public servant,” said chair of the council California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero. “Their contributions have improved access to justice in their own courts and entire statewide judicial system.”

This year’s Distinguished Service Award recipients are:


Justice William W. Bedsworth
Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three (Santa Ana)

Appointed to the appellate court by Governor Pete Wilson in February 1997, Justice William W. Bedsworth is the state’s longest-serving justice on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division 3. He started his 38-year career on the bench in 1986, when he was elected to an open seat on the Superior Court of Orange County.

During his career on the bench, Justice Bedsworth has been an inspiring presence within the court and the legal community. In 2000, he wrote the opinion in People v. Garcia, which state Senator Carol Migden called "the first gay rights case in the history of the world." The California Legislature explicitly referred to that opinion when it amended Code of Civil Procedure section 231.5 to prohibit any consideration of sexual orientation as a basis for the exercise of a peremptory challenge during jury selection.

His legal opinions have spanned many topics, but he is recognized by lawyers for his writings on civility within the profession. Justice Bedsworth served on California's Civility Task Force, and was an outspoken voice committed to improving civility between opposing counsel and between lawyers and the bench.

Equally acclaimed for his writings off the bench, through his syndicated monthly column—A Criminal Waste of Space—Justice Bedsworth has educated and entertained lawyers and non-lawyers alike. He is also an avid teacher, having served as faculty at Western State University, Chapman University, the California Judicial College, and the University of California, Irvine Law School.