Harold Haley
Encyclopedia
Harold Joseph Haley was a Superior Court judge in Marin County, California
. He was taken hostage in his courtroom, along with several others, during the course of a trial, and killed during the attempted escape of his captors with their hostages.
and graduated from San Rafael High School
. After receiving his law degree
from San Francisco's St. Ignatius College (later known as the University of San Francisco
) in 1928, Haley served as a San Rafael city attorney
and as a Marin County district attorney
. In 1956, he was appointed to be a municipal court judge by California Governor Goodwin Knight
, and he was named to the superior court
by Governor Pat Brown
in 1965.
In 1959, actor Sterling Hayden
sailed with his four children on an infamous trip to Tahiti
, which following a bitter divorce was in defiance of a court order
not to remove them from California
. Two years later, Haley ordered Hayden to repay Republic Pictures
, who financed the trip via two promissory notes, nearly $50,000 for defaulting on an agreement to repay the debt.
While an assistant district attorney, Haley married his high school classmate, Gertrude Ahern (c. 1904 - June 6, 2002), at St. Raphael's church
on May 24, 1933. The couple eventually had three daughters. Haley's niece, Maureen, is married to former Marin County assistant district attorney and Superior Court judge Gary Thomas.
Haley, Jackson, McClain and Christmas were killed as the abductors attempted to drive away from the courthouse. Haley was apparently hit by fire from a sawed-off shotgun
that had been fastened to his neck with adhesive tape by the abductors. Magee was severely wounded, Thomas was shot in the spine and left paralyzed, and one of the female hostages was also wounded.
A ballistics expert would later testify that Haley was hit in the face by a shotgun blast fired within the van, as well as in the chest by a bullet from a .357 magnum that one of the gunmen had taken from a deputy.
, former United States federal judge
Martin Jenkins
, and former mayor of Daly City, California
, Sal Torres
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was taken hostage in his courtroom, along with several others, during the course of a trial, and killed during the attempted escape of his captors with their hostages.
Background
Harold Haley, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Haley, was born in San Rafael, CaliforniaSan Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
and graduated from San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School is a coeducational public secondary school located at 185 Mission Avenue in San Rafael, California, United States.The school is part of the San Rafael City Schools school district...
. After receiving his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from San Francisco's St. Ignatius College (later known as the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
) in 1928, Haley served as a San Rafael city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
and as a Marin County district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
. In 1956, he was appointed to be a municipal court judge by California Governor Goodwin Knight
Goodwin Knight
Goodwin Jess Knight , known as "Goodie Knight", was a U.S. politician who was the 31st Governor of California from 1953 until 1959.-Early life:...
, and he was named to the superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
by Governor Pat Brown
Pat Brown
Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. was the 32nd Governor of California, serving from 1959 to 1967, and the father of current Governor of California Jerry Brown.-Background:...
in 1965.
In 1959, actor Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden
Sterling Hayden was an American actor and author. For most of his career as a leading man, he specialized in westerns and film noir, such as Johnny Guitar, The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing. Later on he became noted as a character actor for such roles as Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr...
sailed with his four children on an infamous trip to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, which following a bitter divorce was in defiance of a court order
Court order
A court order is an official proclamation by a judge that defines the legal relationships between the parties to a hearing, a trial, an appeal or other court proceedings. Such ruling requires or authorizes the carrying out of certain steps by one or more parties to a case...
not to remove them from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Two years later, Haley ordered Hayden to repay Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
, who financed the trip via two promissory notes, nearly $50,000 for defaulting on an agreement to repay the debt.
While an assistant district attorney, Haley married his high school classmate, Gertrude Ahern (c. 1904 - June 6, 2002), at St. Raphael's church
Mission San Rafael Arcángel
Mission San Rafael Arcángel was founded in 1817 as a medical asistencia of the Mission San Francisco de Asís as a hospital to treat sick Native Americans of the Bay Area, making it Alta California's first sanitarium. The weather was much better in the North Bay than in San Francisco, and helped...
on May 24, 1933. The couple eventually had three daughters. Haley's niece, Maureen, is married to former Marin County assistant district attorney and Superior Court judge Gary Thomas.
Marin County courthouse incident
On August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson brought guns into Judge Haley's courtroom, where San Quentin inmate James McClain was on trial. McClain was freed along with two other San Quentin inmates, Ruchell Magee and William Christmas, who were present at the trial as witnesses. Jackson and the prisoners took Haley, Thomas, and three female jurors hostage and attempted to escape.Haley, Jackson, McClain and Christmas were killed as the abductors attempted to drive away from the courthouse. Haley was apparently hit by fire from a sawed-off shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
that had been fastened to his neck with adhesive tape by the abductors. Magee was severely wounded, Thomas was shot in the spine and left paralyzed, and one of the female hostages was also wounded.
A ballistics expert would later testify that Haley was hit in the face by a shotgun blast fired within the van, as well as in the chest by a bullet from a .357 magnum that one of the gunmen had taken from a deputy.
Legacy
At the Marin County Civic Center, Judge Haley Drive is named in his honor. The faculty of the University of San Francisco School of Law also awards the distinguished "Judge Harold J. Haley Award for exceptional distinction in scholarship, character, and activities". Notable alumni of the USF law school who have won the award include author Cupcake BrownCupcake Brown
Cupcake Brown is an American author and a lawyer.-Biography:Cupcake Brown was erroneously named when a nurse misunderstood her mother's post-delivery request. She remembers a happy childhood until the age of eleven when her mother died of a seizure...
, former United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
Martin Jenkins
Martin Jenkins
Martin J. Jenkins is a justice of the California Court of Appeal for the First District, located in San Francisco, and a former federal judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.-Early life:...
, and former mayor of Daly City, California
Daly City, California
Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County, California, United States, with a 2010 population of 101,123. Located immediately south of San Francisco, it is named in honor of businessman and landowner John Daly.-History:...
, Sal Torres
Sal Torres
Sal Torres is an American politician from California. He has been elected to the city council of Daly City, California several times. He has also served as mayor and vice mayor.- References :...
.
Further information
- Courthouses of California: An Illustrated History edited by Ray McDevitt (ISBN 1-890771-49-X) includes photographs of Judge Haley and others being held at gunpoint during their abduction.
- The Road to Hell (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1996) by Paul Liberatore includes photographs and an account of the incident.
External links
- San Quentin Trials (Accessed 17 October 2005)
- Text of decision in Magee v. Superior Court