Edward R. Brand Dies; Former ‘Hollywood Judge’

Retired Superior Court Judge Edward R. Brand, who estimated that he presided over more than 10,000 marriages and divorces in the four decades he was on the bench, died Thursday night at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He was 84.

He served on Municipal and Superior courts from 1932 until he retired in 1973.

Known as the “Hollywood Judge” because of the number of celebrities who appeared before him for weddings or divorces, Brand started out in life as a stand-up comic. But his father encouraged him to quit the small Los Angeles theaters he was working and seek a more serious profession.

He graduated from Southwestern Law School and was in private practice until the county Board of Supervisors named him to the Justice Court in 1930. In 1932 he was named by Gov. James Rolph Jr. to the Municipal Court bench.

He was elevated to Superior Court in 1936, quit in 1951 but was reappointed in 1954, and spent the remainder of his career hearing domestic relations and criminal cases in Santa Monica.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, a daughter, a son, two grandchildren and a brother, Harry Brand, retired director of publicity for 20th Century Fox.

A funeral service will be Tuesday at noon at Hillside Cemetery.