Stephen Michael Lachs (born September 1939) is an American lawyer and retired judge. Lachs served as a judge of the
Los Angeles County Superior Court
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the California Superior Courts of California, Superior Court located in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County. It is the largest single unified trial court in the United States.
The Sup ...
from 1979 to 1999. He was the first
openly gay judge appointed in the United States
[Nation's 1st Openly Gay Judge to Retire]
''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' (September 2, 1999). and is thought to be the first openly gay judge appointed anywhere in the world.
Early life and education
Lachs received a Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
from the University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school the ...
in 1960 and a Bachelor of Laws
A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...
from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1963.[Stephen M. Lachs - Lawyer Profile]
'' Martindale''.[Hon. Stephen M. Lachs Profile - ADR Services, Inc.]
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Judicial service
From 1975 to 1979, Lachs served as a commissioner of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
The Superior Court of Los Angeles County is the California Superior Courts of California, Superior Court located in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County. It is the largest single unified trial court in the United States.
The Sup ...
.[ In 1979, Lachs received a judicial appointment to the Los Angeles County Superior Court from ]Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. (born April 7, 1938) is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic P ...
, who was beginning his second term as Governor of California
The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The Governor (United States), governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard.
Established in the Constit ...
.[ Brown had completed his first term as governor without appointing any openly gay people to any position, but he cited the failed 1978 Briggs Initiative, which sought to ban homosexuals from working in California's public schools, for his increased support of ]gay rights
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality.
Not ...
.[ As the first openly gay judge serving in the world, Lachs inspired many people along the journey for gay rights.][''Transitions - Retired: Stephen M. Lachs'', '']The Advocate
An advocate is a professional in the field of law.
The Advocate, The Advocates or Advocate may also refer to:
Magazines
* The Advocate (magazine), ''The Advocate'' (magazine), an LGBT magazine based in the United States
* ''The Harvard Advocate' ...
'' (October 12, 1999).
Michael Jackson custody dispute
After retiring from the bench, Lachs worked for Action Dispute Resolution Services, a private company that offers mediation
Mediation is a structured, voluntary process for resolving disputes, facilitated by a neutral third party known as the mediator. It is a structured, interactive process where an independent third party, the mediator, assists disputing parties ...
services for civil disputes.[Michael Jackson, ex-wife hire family law judge]
''CNN
Cable News Network (CNN) is a multinational news organization operating, most notably, a website and a TV channel headquartered in Atlanta. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable ne ...
'' (February 25, 2004). In 1999, Lachs was hired as a private judge by singer Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...
and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe
Deborah Jeanne Rowe (born December 6, 1958) is an American nurse known for being the wife of pop musician Michael Jackson, with whom she had two children.
Early life
Debbie Rowe was born on December 6, 1958, in Spokane, Washington, to Barbara C ...
to mediate their custody dispute.[Jessica Garrison]
Jackson, Ex-Wife Reach Settlement in Custody Fight
''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' (September 30, 2006). Lachs granted Rowe's 2001 request to terminate her parental rights
Parental responsibility refers to the responsibility which underpin the relationship between the children and the children's parents and those adults who are granted parental responsibility by either signing a 'parental responsibility agreement' ...
,[Jessica Garrison]
Case Reopens Debate on Private Judges
''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', (September 6, 2006). but subsequently reversed that decision during a 2005 hearing.[Mike Celizic]
What will happen to Michael Jackson’s kids?
''MSNBC
MSNBC is an American cable news channel owned by the NBCUniversal News Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Launched on July 15, 1996, and headquartered at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan, the channel primarily broadcasts r ...
'' (June 26, 2009). In December 2005, Lachs recused himself from the case after being accused by Jackson's lawyers of bias against Jackson.[ Roger Friedman]
Michael Jackson's Secret Papers Revealed
''Fox News
The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conservatism in the United States, conservative List of news television channels, news and political commentary Television stati ...
'' (September 22, 2006).
See also
* List of LGBT jurists in the United States
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lachs, Stephen M.
1939 births
Living people
American gay men
California state court judges
LGBTQ appointed officials in the United States
LGBTQ judges
American LGBTQ lawyers
Superior court judges in the United States
UCLA School of Law alumni
University of California, Los Angeles alumni