James Wright BS ’43, JD ’49 (deceased)

former Judge with the SCC Superior Court

After serving in combat during World War II, he entered law school at Santa Clara and become the first president of the school’s Student Bar Association. He worked as an attorney for the firm of Miller & Morton, where he was later named a partner. He was president of the Santa Clara County Bar Association 1963-64, and was appointed to Sunnyvale’s municipal court in 1972. He was elevated to superior court in 1975, and later served as presiding judge of the criminal courts. In 1985, Judge Wright was unanimously elected presiding judge of the Santa Clara County’s superior court. He was the Edwin J. Owens Lawyer of the Year in 1977, and was named Trial Judge of the Year by the local Trial Lawyers Association in 1983. He retired in 1988.

Wright’s wife of 58 years, Janet, passed away on May 31, and Wright died on August 21. "We are pleased we had the opportunity to honor him and celebrate with him at the banquet," says Donald Polden, Santa Clara Law dean. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends."