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LaDoris Cordell

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LaDoris Cordell
Headshot of Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell in black robes.
Judge of the Superior Court, Santa Clara County, San Jose, California
In office
June 1988 – February 2001
Judge of the Municipal Court, Santa Clara County, San Jose, California
In office
April 1982 – June 1988
Appointed byJerry Brown
Personal details
Born
LaDoris Louise Hazzard

(1949-11-19) November 19, 1949 (age 74)
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationAntioch College (BA)
Stanford University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

LaDoris Hazzard Cordell (born November 19, 1949) is an American retired judge of the Superior Court of California, and a retired Independent Police Auditor for the city of San Jose, California.

As the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Stanford Law School (1978-82), Cordell developed an admissions program that led to a dramatic increase in the number of African American and Latino students at the law school. Within a year, Stanford Law School went from last to first place in the enrollment of students of color among major law schools.

Cordell was the first female African American judge in Northern California, and the first African American Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County, California. For more than a decade, she taught judicial conduct and ethics at B. E. Witkin Judicial College of California.[1]

Education

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Before becoming a lawyer, Judge Cordell graduated from Antioch College in 1971 with a bachelor of arts. She graduated from Stanford Law School in 1974 with a juris doctor.[2]

Career

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In 1975, Cordell was the first person in the Western United States to serve as the Earl Warren Intern at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. From 1976 to 1982, she practiced as a private attorney in East Palo Alto, specializing in criminal defense law, personal injury law, family law, and federal civil rights law. From 1978 to 1982, she was assistant dean for Student Affairs at Stanford Law School.

In 1982, California governor Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown, Jr. appointed Cordell to be a municipal court judge for the County of Santa Clara; she was the first California judge to order breath devices installed into the cars of drivers convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol, and was presiding judge from 1985 to 1986.

In 1988, she was elected to become a superior court judge for the County of Santa Clara, where she served as supervising judge for the probate court from 1994 to 1995; supervising judge of the family court from 1990 to 1992, and presiding judge of the superior court appellate department in 1993.

In 1990, Cordell founded the African American Donor Task Force to increase Black participation in the national bone marrow registry.[3]

In 1996, all proceeds from Cordell's first artwork exhibition (Chiaroscuro: An Exhibition of Works on Paper) were donated to the Support Network for Battered Women's crisis services for African American women and their children. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, sales of calendars featuring legal cartoons drawn by Judge Cordell generated several thousand dollars for Legal Advocates for Children & Youth (LACY); a nonprofit legal service for Santa Clara County's youth. And in 2002, a second art exhibit and auction of her artwork and cartoon calendar raised over $13,000 for the East Palo Alto Mural Art Project.[4][5][6]

From 2001 to 2009, Cordell served as Stanford University's vice provost and special counselor to the president for campus relations, where she supervised the Office for Campus Relations. In a campaign in which she refused monetary contributions, she was elected to the Palo Alto City Council in 2004, where she served until 2008. From 2010 to 2015, she served as Independent Police Auditor (IPA) for the City of San Jose, CA.[2][7][8][9]

In 2014, Cordell co-founded the African American Composer Initiative (AACI);[10] an organization whose mission is to bring the music of these past and present composers to the world through live concerts, and online recordings.[11][12]

In 2015, Cordell was a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement.[13] In the wake of revelations that 14 San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) officers had exchanged numerous racist, and homophobic text messages,[14][15][16] the panel was established as an advisory body to the District Attorney of San Francisco, George Gascón. Composed of three retired judges from outside the city,[17] and supported by attorneys from seven Bay Area law firms, the panel's final report with 72 findings and 81 recommendations was accepted by the City and County of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.[18][19][20][21]

Also in 2015, Cordell was the Chairwoman of the 26-member Blue Ribbon Commission on Improving Custody Operations.[22] The commission was established after 3 correctional guards allegedly beat to death mentally ill inmate Michael Tyree in the City of San Jose's jail.[23] The commission's final report included 120 recommendations to protect inmates' rights, and was accepted by Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors.[24][25][26][27][28]

In 2018, Cordell led the opposition to the voter recall campaign of fellow Stanford Law School graduate, and Santa Clara County Judge, Aaron Persky. After Persky's sentencing of Stanford University student Brock Turner to 6 months in the county jail for the January 18, 2015 sexual assault and attempted rape of an unconscious 22-year-old woman (People v. Turner), a public backlash led to the successful June 5, 2018 recall of Persky.[29][30][31]

In the aftermath of a racially charged incident involving a Black female Santa Clara University professor, and campus police officers in August 2020,[32][33] Cordell conducted an audit[34] of the university's Public Safety Services Department (PSSD). While she did not participate in the investigation, Cordell urged the university to implement her 22 recommendations “as quickly as possible.” [35][36]

Also in 2020, Cordell was appointed to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Innocence Commission;[37] a panel of six experts volunteering their time to evaluate cases where an incarcerated person asserts that they were wrongfully convicted.[38] Established under recalled DA Chesa Boudin, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously called on newly appointed DA Brooke Jenkins to preserve the commission in 2022.[39]

From 1969 to December 17, 2020, non-residents faced jail time or fines up to $1,000 for visiting the City of Palo Alto’s Foothills Park. Represented by the ACLU of Northern California, Cordell was a plaintiff in the successful lawsuit to lift the residents-only restriction.[40][41]

Upon publication of her book in 2021, Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It, Cordell was interviewed as the guest on the KQED radio program Forum, and discussed a number of the problems she considered to be present in the legal system.[42] She described her book as a “primoir”; a combination of a primer and a memoir.[43][44]

In 2022, Cordell was featured in The Recall: Reframed;[45] a short documentary by Rebecca Richman Cohen[46] that takes issue with the “Recall Persky” campaign.[47][48]

Cordell is a frequent legal commentator for news outlets including CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.[49][50][51] She is quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times; is a Commonwealth Club of California moderator, and appeared as the presiding judge on an unscripted, prime-time court show on FOX; You the Jury.

Awards

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Cordell has received 43 awards and honors, including: [52]

  • the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award from the ACLU of Northern California;
  • the Crystal Gavel Award from the California Association of Black Lawyers’ Judicial Section;
  • induction into Stanford University’s Multicultural Hall of Fame, and
  • the Silicon Valley Black Legends Hall of Fame, (Law & Justice Award).

References

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  1. ^ "California Rules of Court: Title Ten Rules. 10.462.(c)(1)(C)". Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The Honorable LaDoris Cordell's Biography". The HistoryMakers. November 28, 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Biography - LaDoris H. Cordell". ABA Women Trailblazer Project. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  4. ^ Hayde, Monica (January 5, 1996). "Her honor, the artist". Palo Alto Online. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Chin, Bryan (January 18, 2002). "The art of judging". Palo Alto Online. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  6. ^ Cordell, LaDoris Hazzard. "Artist - Judge Cordell". Judge Cordell. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. ^ "Respected judge and San Jose police auditor to retire". KTVU FOX 2. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  8. ^ Salonga, Robert (18 March 2015). "San Jose: Independent Police Auditor LaDoris Cordell to step down this summer". The Mercury News. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. ^ Herhold, Scott (30 April 2015). "LaDoris Cordell makes a legitimate call for transparency". The Mercury News. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  10. ^ "African American Composer Initiative (AACI)". Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. ^ Thomas, Eric. "San Jose's independent police auditor to retire, focus on showcasing work of black musicians". ABC7 News Bay Area. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  12. ^ Cordell, LaDoris Hazzard. "Musician". Judge Cordell. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  13. ^ City and County of San Francisco, CA (May 2015). "The Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement". SF Blue Ribbon. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  14. ^ Van Derbeken, Jaxon (March 16, 2015). "Bigoted texts 'disgraced' SFPD, chief says, vowing rapid action". SF GATE. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Emslie, Alex (31 March 2016). "More SFPD Officers Sent Bigoted Text Messages, Even During 'Textgate' Scandal". KQED. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  16. ^ Scott Glover, and Dan Simon (April 26, 2016). "'Wild animals': Racist texts sent by San Francisco police officer, documents show". CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Emslie, Alex (May 7, 2015). "S.F. DA Convenes Three Retired Judges to Probe Police Department". KQED. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  18. ^ San Francisco Blue Ribbon Panel (July 2016). "Report of The Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement" (PDF). City and County of San Francisco. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  19. ^ Emslie, Alex (11 July 2016). "Panel Finds SFPD 'Code of Silence,' Outsized Influence of Police Union". KQED. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ^ City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting (4 October 2016). "Judge Cordell speaks on SFPD's history of Brutality and Racism at Board Hearing, 2016" (VIDEO). YouTube.com/@ThomasBrownSF. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  21. ^ City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting (4 October 2016). "160806 Hearing - Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement - Final Report" (VIDEO). BOS Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting.
  22. ^ County of Santa Clara, CA (6 October 2015). "Blue Ribbon Commission On Improving Custody Operations". Official Website - County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  23. ^ Len Ramirez contributed to this report (2 August 2022). "Murder convictions overturned for 3 Santa Clara deputies in Michael Tyree death" (VIDEO). CBS NEWS Bay Area. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  24. ^ County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting (12 April 2016). "Report 80653". Consider recommendations relating to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Improving Custody Operations' final recommendations. - The County of Santa Clara, California. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  25. ^ County Santa Clara Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting (12 April 2016). "10. Consider recommendations relating to the Blue Ribbon Commission on Improving Custody Operations' final recommendations" (VIDEO). Video Outline - County of Santa Clara, California. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  26. ^ "120 Recommendations For Santa Clara Jail Safety From Blue Ribbon Commission". CBS NEWS BAY AREA. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  27. ^ Willon, Beth. "Santa Clara County Supervisors Unanimously Approve Jail Reforms". KQED. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  28. ^ Eli Wolfe and Tran Nguyen (17 August 2021). "UPDATE: Santa Clara County pursues investigation of sheriff". San Jose´ Spotlight. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  29. ^ Simon, Scott (24 February 2018). "Weekend Edition Saturday: On Brock Turner And The Campaign To Recall The Judge In The Case" (AUDIO). National Public Radio (NPR). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  30. ^ Richard Gonzales, Camila Domonoske (5 June 2018). "Voters Recall Aaron Persky, Judge Who Sentenced Brock Turner". NPR | KQED. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  31. ^ Astor, Maggie (6 June 2018). "California Voters Remove Judge Aaron Persky, Who Gave a 6-Month Sentence for Sexual Assault". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  32. ^ Goldstein, Joelle (August 25, 2020). "Black Calif. Professor Says Campus Safety Officers Asked Her to Prove She Lived in Her Own House". PEOPLE. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Elassar, Alaa (26 August 2020). "Santa Clara University launches investigation after a Black professor was asked by campus security to prove she lived in her own house". CNN. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  34. ^ Cordell, LaDoris H. (December 2020). "Audit of Campus Safety Services, Santa Clara University". Campus Safety Audit Report - Vice Provost for Student Life - Santa Clara University. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  35. ^ Toledo, Aldo (18 August 2021). "Santa Clara University finds "no evidence" of bias when campus security stopped black professor". The Mercury News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Santa Clara University didn't find evidence of bias when campus security stopped black professor". The Santa Clara Mail. August 20, 2021.
  37. ^ "The Innocence Commission". The Innocence Commission - San Francisco District Attorney. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  38. ^ Rosenthal, Annie (7 August 2022). "Even the District Attorney Believed Joaquin Ciria Was Innocent. Why Did It Take So Long to Set Him Free?". POLITICO. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  39. ^ Bay City News (July 20, 2022). "SF Supes Call on New DA to Keep the Innocence Commission Set Up Under Boudin". NBC BAY AREA. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  40. ^ "Plaintiffs v. City of Palo Alto, California, Defendant. Case No.: 20CV370681. Santa Clara County California Superior Court" (PDF). ACLU of Northern California. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  41. ^ "Palo Alto's Foothills Park Opening To All For 1st Time In Decades After Referendum Campaign Fails". CBS News Bay Area. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  42. ^ Kim, Mina (26 October 2021). "Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell on How to Fix a Broken Legal System" (AUDIO). KQED | Forum. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  43. ^ Cordell, LaDoris Hazzard (26 October 2021). "Her Honor | My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It". Celadon Books. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  44. ^ Cordell, LaDoris (21 April 2023). "How Bay Area prosecutors are weaponizing California statutes to attack judicial independence". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Reframed | A film by Rebecca Richman Cohen". Recall Reframed. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  46. ^ "The Recall: Reframed (Full Film)" (VIDEO). YouTube.com/@the_emancipator. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  47. ^ Reed, Rachel (16 March 2023). "Did recalling the judge in an infamous sexual assault case lead to justice?". Harvard Law School. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  48. ^ Cordell, LaDoris H. (June 20, 2023). "The fatal flaw of judicial politics: How outrage around Brock Turner led to centuries of extra prison time". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  49. ^ Cordell, LaDoris Hazzard. "Audio/Video" (AUDIO/VIDEO). Judge Cordell. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  50. ^ Writer, Aila Slisco (2023-08-08). "Former judge predicts a Trump gag order: 'This man cannot shut up'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  51. ^ Ferrigine, Gabriella (2023-08-08). "'This man cannot shut up': Ex-judge warns Trump risks gag order as his judge sets speedy hearing". Salon. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  52. ^ Cordell, LaDoris Hazzard. "Honors and Awards". Judge Cordell. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
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