Donald Pike
Encyclopedia
Donald Wayne Pike was a lawyer
who was appointed as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner, seated on the bench in 1973 until the mid-1990s. Pike is best known for graduating from law school and becoming a judge without ever having attended college.
to Harold and Lillian Pike, Donald Pike's family migrated as farmhands, first to Oregon, then to Julian
and Ramona, California
mountain communities east of San Diego
, where the family of nine children helped support the family by working in the corn fields. Pike dropped out of school and left home at age 14 to live in a boarding house while continuing to work as a farm laborer, then as a stock boy in a department store and, at one point, as a Western Union
messenger boy.http://donaldpike.blogspot.com/2008/06/speaking-memory-at-pioneer-junior-high.html. According to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, he became a millionaire in his 60s from land investments.
During World War II, at age 18, he joined the United States Merchant Marine
, enlisting as an Ordinary Seaman
, sailing on the S.S. J. Maurice Thompson, S.S. Alexander Lillington
and S.S. Robert Toombs
during two stints overseas. He was first released from active duty, with the rank of Quartermaster Third Class, in 1942. He rejoined the Merchant Marine in 1943 and was officially discharged in 1944.
. He then enrolled at McGeorge School of Law
in Sacramento
at night while delivering Dad's Root Beer
during the day. In July 1965, while attending law school, Pike formally withdrew his membership in good standing from the Teamsters
union, which he needed to work as a truck driver delivering root beer. After transferring to the San Fernando Valley College of Law, he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws
degree in 1967.
College of Law and psychology and the law at Claremont Graduate University
.
The Daily Journal, in its obituary about Pike, described his impoverished beginnings in a Nebraska family of nine children as a "Grapes of Wrath-esque exodus to California and his early job as a child working as a farm laborer. The paper titled the article "Jurist Fought for Gay Rights Before it was Popular." While a lawyer in private practice, Pike drafted contracts for gay men and women "that emulated the rights of married couples," the paper wrote. The Daily Journal also described Pike's work for gay rights as groundbreaking and "three decades before it was fashionable."
. He had two daughters, Sharon Lawrence and Victoria Pynchon
, with his first wife, Lois Borden. His youngest daughter Victoria, also an attorney in Los Angeles, practices private dispute resolution.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who was appointed as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner, seated on the bench in 1973 until the mid-1990s. Pike is best known for graduating from law school and becoming a judge without ever having attended college.
Biography
Born in NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
to Harold and Lillian Pike, Donald Pike's family migrated as farmhands, first to Oregon, then to Julian
Julian, California
Julian is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,502, down from 1,621 at the 2000 census.Julian is an official California Historical Landmark No. 412...
and Ramona, California
Ramona, California
Ramona is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 20,292 at the 2010 census.The term Ramona also refers to an unincorporated community that includes both the Ramona CDP and the adjacent CDP of San Diego Country Estates CDP...
mountain communities east of San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, where the family of nine children helped support the family by working in the corn fields. Pike dropped out of school and left home at age 14 to live in a boarding house while continuing to work as a farm laborer, then as a stock boy in a department store and, at one point, as a Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
messenger boy.http://donaldpike.blogspot.com/2008/06/speaking-memory-at-pioneer-junior-high.html. According to the Los Angeles Daily Journal, he became a millionaire in his 60s from land investments.
During World War II, at age 18, he joined the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
, enlisting as an Ordinary Seaman
Ordinary Seaman (occupation)
An ordinary seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The position is an apprenticeship to become an able seaman, and has been for centuries...
, sailing on the S.S. J. Maurice Thompson, S.S. Alexander Lillington
Alexander Lillington
John Alexander Lillington , aka Alexander John Lillington, was a Patriot officer from North Carolina in the American Revolutionary War who notably fought in the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in 1776...
and S.S. Robert Toombs
Robert Toombs
Robert Augustus Toombs was an American political leader, United States Senator from Georgia, 1st Secretary of State of the Confederacy, and a Confederate general in the Civil War.-Early life:...
during two stints overseas. He was first released from active duty, with the rank of Quartermaster Third Class, in 1942. He rejoined the Merchant Marine in 1943 and was officially discharged in 1944.
Education
Pike earned his high school equivalency diploma at age 26. Later, he attended law school without first attending college. He passed a college equivalency test allowed at the time by the State Bar of CaliforniaState Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
. He then enrolled at McGeorge School of Law
McGeorge School of Law
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law is a private, ABA approved law school in the Oak Park neighborhood of the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the University of the Pacific....
in Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
at night while delivering Dad's Root Beer
Dad's Root Beer
Dad's Root Beer is an American root beer created in Chicago in 1937 by Ely Klapman and Barney Berns. It is currently sold and marketed by The Dad's Root Beer Company LLC, and owned by Hedinger Brands, LLC.- History :...
during the day. In July 1965, while attending law school, Pike formally withdrew his membership in good standing from the Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
union, which he needed to work as a truck driver delivering root beer. After transferring to the San Fernando Valley College of Law, he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1967.
Career
Pike passed the California State Bar examination his first try and was admitted as a lawyer in June 1967. He was appointed as a commissioner in Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Law Division, from 1973 until the mid 1990s. The Daily Journal profiled Pike in a January 5, 1982 article while he sat on the bench. In the mid 1970s, he taught children's rights at University of La VerneUniversity of La Verne
The University of La Verne is a private research university located in La Verne, California . Founded in 1891, the university is composed of the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Public Management, College of Education and Organizational Leadership, College of Law, and a Regional...
College of Law and psychology and the law at Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont Graduate University is a private, all-graduate research university located in Claremont, California, a city east of downtown Los Angeles...
.
The Daily Journal, in its obituary about Pike, described his impoverished beginnings in a Nebraska family of nine children as a "Grapes of Wrath-esque exodus to California and his early job as a child working as a farm laborer. The paper titled the article "Jurist Fought for Gay Rights Before it was Popular." While a lawyer in private practice, Pike drafted contracts for gay men and women "that emulated the rights of married couples," the paper wrote. The Daily Journal also described Pike's work for gay rights as groundbreaking and "three decades before it was fashionable."
Personal life
Pike was an avid sailor and boating enthusiast throughout his life. He lived in Granada Hills, CaliforniaGranada Hills, Los Angeles, California
Granada Hills is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles.It is located just north of the North Hills and Northridge districts, west of the Mission Hills and Sylmar districts, and just east of the Porter Ranch district. It is accessible by the Ronald Reagan , San...
. He had two daughters, Sharon Lawrence and Victoria Pynchon
Victoria Pynchon
Victoria "Vickie" Pynchon is an American lawyer, attorney mediator, author and writer based in Los Angeles.-Early years:Victoria Pynchon grew up in La Mesa in San Diego County, graduating from La Mesa Junior High School, where she was valedictorian, then graduating in 1970 from Helix High...
, with his first wife, Lois Borden. His youngest daughter Victoria, also an attorney in Los Angeles, practices private dispute resolution.