Stephen Lachs
Encyclopedia
Stephen M. Lachs served as a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1979 to 1999. He was the first openly gay
judge appointed in the United States and is thought to be the first openly gay judge appointed anywhere in the world.
from the University of California, Los Angeles
in 1960 and an LL.B.
from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1963.
, who was beginning his second term as Governor of California
. 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.
Lachs retired from the bench on October 3, 1999.
services for civil disputes
. In 1999, Lachs was hired as a private judge
by singer Michael Jackson
and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe
to mediate their custody dispute. Lachs granted Rowe's 2001 request to terminate her parental rights, but subsequently reversed that decision during a 2005 hearing. In December 2005, Lachs recused himself from the case after being accused by Jackson's lawyers of bias against Jackson.
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
judge appointed in the United States and is thought to be the first openly gay judge appointed anywhere in the world.
Early life and education
Lachs received a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 1960 and an LL.B.
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...
from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1963.
Judicial service
From 1975 to 1979, Lachs served as a commissioner of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. In 1979, Lachs received a judicial appointment to the Los Angeles County Superior Court from Jerry BrownJerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
, who was beginning his second term as Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
. 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.
Lachs retired from the bench on October 3, 1999.
Michael Jackson custody dispute
After retiring from the bench, Lachs worked for Action Dispute Resolution Services, a private company that offers mediationMediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
services for civil disputes
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
. In 1999, Lachs was hired as a private judge
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
by singer Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe
Debbie Rowe
Deborah Jeanne "Debbie" Rowe is an ex-wife of pop singer, Michael Jackson, and the mother of two of his children. She currently lives in Palmdale, California.-Early life:...
to mediate their custody dispute. Lachs granted Rowe's 2001 request to terminate her parental rights, but subsequently reversed that decision during a 2005 hearing. In December 2005, Lachs recused himself from the case after being accused by Jackson's lawyers of bias against Jackson.