Senior Circuit Judge Arthur L. Alarcón of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit died Jan. 28, 2015 at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
Judge Alarcón, who had been diagnosed with cancer last September, passed peacefully with his devoted wife Sandra at his side. He was 89.
“Judge Alarcón dedicated his life to the law and the pursuit of justice and was highly esteemed by his colleagues and members of the bar,” said Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas. “Over many decades, he was a significant force in improving the administration of justice, not only in California, but throughout the Ninth Circuit.
Judge Alarcón celebrated his 50th year as a judge in 2014. Most of that half-century of judicial service was as a federal appellate judge. Nominated by President Carter, he came onto the Ninth Circuit bench in 1979, becoming the first judge of Hispanic descent to sit on the court.
He served as an active judge until taking senior status in 1992. He maintained a full caseload and continued to work for a time even after his diagnosis, never letting on to colleagues about his illness.
The recipient of numerous accolades, Judge Alarcón recently received 2014 Judge of the Year
Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Precursor Para Justicia / Pioneer for Justice Award from the Mexican American Bar Foundation in 2010.
Funeral services were held in February.
Read Judge Alarcon’s full obituary at palipost.com/obituaries.
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