When the Beverly Hills attorney, John J. Merrick was elected judge of the judicial district of Malibu in 1964, was considered only a part-time work: the population of the area stretching from sea to Calabasas does not guarantee full-time municipal judge.
While maintaining his law practice, Merrick cases heard Monday in a small court in Calabasas, which has doubled in a ballroom at night.
He spent the next four days a week, the benchmark in 1930-was the court of Malibu, Pacific Coast Highway.
But it could also be allocated to meet the municipal actions in places as far away as Glendale, Indio, Lancaster and Ventura.
"I was known as' Have Robe, Will Travel," she recalled in a 1986 times.
At present the population of the district court exceeded the necessary 40,000 in 1973 and became Merrick's first municipal court judge of the new Constitution in Malibu, has been handling more than 20,000 cases a year. He stayed on the bench in Malibu until his retirement in 1986.
Merrick, a resident of Malibu since 1940 and a local historian and civic leader, died of pneumonia July 31 at his home in Point Dumas, said his son Brian. He was 93 years.
When Merrick retired after nearly 22 years as a judge in Malibu, Richard Brand, a court commissioner who had worked with him for 12 years, told the Times: "We're losing an institution."
"Many people say that I am a very fair judge," Merrick said the Times in 1986. "I look to see both sides to exercise some compassion and punish those who need it."
Merrick on the bench during the time he signed the order to breach to enter the Spahn Ranch, home of the famous Manson family.
And with 50 MPs warn his court, Merrick presided over the preliminary hearing of Manson family member Susan Atkins, who was accused of the murder of musician Gary Hinman Topanga Canyon.
Merrick had sometimes the heat of some of his decisions in court.
When Topanga Canyon nudist club called Elysée opened in 1960 and a number of people have been arrested on charges of nudity in the context of an ordinance of the county 30 years of age, Merrick said that the ordinance was unconstitutional.
The decision that was upheld by the Court of Appeals of the State, has received wide publicity.
"Despite the fact that I am a deeply religious person who attends Mass every day," said Merrick The Times in 1986: "I was described as a pervert and has received a lot of hate."
As the judge in a show of world-famous enclaves, Merrick has chaired a number of celebrity weddings, including the high profile 1985 marriage of pop singer Madonna and actor Sean Penn on a promontory, Point Dumas.
"There were eight helicopters flying over the shooting on the roof with kids hanging doors, was like 'Apocalypse Now'" recalled Merrick 1986 Times interview. "The three of us knew more or less what we were doing. But all the others not to hear the noise."
As Judge Merrick was known for his sense of humor. "There are many occasions where people are very tense in front of you, and you can break the tension with some humor," he told The Times in 1969.
Those who passed through his classroom always, unintentionally humorous moments.
"I was a busboy for being drunk," said Merrick. "I explained the reasons for the different and then I asked him how he said he replied.. Very guilty, his lordship" "
On another occasion, Merrick asked if the defendant was employed.
"Yes, sir," replied the accused, "I am self employed."
06:52 | 0
comments
