Cruz Reynoso

Cruz Reynoso
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
In office
February 11, 1982 – January 4, 1987
Appointed byJerry Brown
Preceded byMathew O. Tobriner
Succeeded byMarcus Kaufman
Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Third District
In office
June 1976 – February 11, 1982
Appointed byJerry Brown
Personal details
Born(1931-05-02)May 2, 1931
Brea, California, U.S.
DiedMay 7, 2021(2021-05-07) (aged 90)
Oroville, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Jeannene Harness
(m. 1957; died 2007)
[1]
Elaine Rowen
Children4
EducationFullerton College (AA)
Pomona College (BA)
University of California, Berkeley (LLB)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1953–1955
UnitCounterintelligence Corps

Cruz Reynoso (May 2, 1931 – May 7, 2021) was an American civil rights lawyer and jurist.

Reynoso was the first Chicano Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court, serving from 1982 to 1987. He also served on the California Third District Court of Appeal.[2] In 1986, along with two other liberal members of the California Supreme Court—Chief Justice Rose Bird and Associate Justice Joseph Grodin—Reynoso became one of only three State Supreme Court justices ever recalled and removed by voters under California's judicial-retention election system. He served as vice-chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1993 to 2004.

After leaving the bench, Reynoso spent ten years on the faculty of the UCLA School of Law and five years at the UC Davis School of Law; he was professor emeritus. In 2000, Reynoso received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, for his efforts to address social inequities and his public service.

  1. ^ Arnold, Kenneth James (1985). California Courts and Judges Handbook. Law Book Service Company.
  2. ^ "Cruz Reynoso". UC Davis School of Law. law.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved June 25, 2010.