STATE : Supreme Court Justice Eagleson Plans to Retire in November
State Supreme Court Justice David N. Eagleson, one of three conservatives appointed after voters ousted Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and two other liberals in 1987, will retire in November, a court spokesman said today.
Eagleson’s retirement marks the last departure of the three justices appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to replace Bird and Justices Joseph Grodin and Cruz Reynoso after a bitter confirmation election in November, 1986. Justice John A. Arguelles left last year and Justice Marcus M. Kaufman retired in January.
The latest departure will give Deukmejian his eighth appointment to the court. The governor has appointed Justice Joyce L. Kennard, 48, to replace Arguelles and Justice Armand Arabian, 55, to replace Kaufman.
Eagleson is considered one of the most conservative members of the court and often joins in decisions with Chief Justice Malcolm M. Lucas, who was appointed by Deukmejian in 1984. He is considered a hard-liner on the death penalty.
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