W. H. Rosenthal; Former Judge, Assemblyman

William H. Rosenthal, retired judge, former state assemblyman and onetime chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, has died.

Glen Akins, a longtime friend, said Monday that Rosenthal, who retired to Palm Springs after leaving the Los Angeles Superior Court bench in 1977, was 84 when he died March 15.

Rosenthal was a graduate of Southwestern University Law School. He continued his studies in constitutional law at Loyola University before joining the Los Angeles city attorney’s office.

He served in the Assembly from 1943 to 1953, representing East Los Angeles. One of his early field secretaries was Edward R. Roybal, who went on to become a city councilman and congressman.

Rosenthal returned to private law practice after leaving the Assembly and served as chairman of the state committee until 1959, when Gov. Edmund G. Brown Sr. named him to the Municipal Court. Two years later, Rosenthal was appointed by Brown to the Superior Court and was assigned to the Burbank district.

Survivors include his wife, Lilith; a daughter, two grandchildren, a brother and two sisters. A memorial service is scheduled Thursday at noon at the Palm Springs Courthouse.