Judge Calvin Schmidt of Harbor Court Dies : Passing: The controversial jurist, 61, had held his seat a record 25 years. He appeared in good health and his death ‘was like a bolt of lightning’ to his friends.

Municipal Judge Calvin P. Schmidt, the controversial jurist who served a record 25 years on the bench in Newport Beach, died in his sleep Wednesday night. He was 61.

Friends said his death came as a shock because the judge was vivacious, animated and appeared in good health.

“It was like a bolt of lighting,” said Selim S. Franklin, presiding judge of the Harbor Municipal Court. “It was such a surprise. Many of us talked to him at great length just yesterday. They were great conversations.” He said there was no indication that Schmidt was ill.

Police said Schmidt’s female companion, who lives with him in Newport Beach, went to check on him in his bedroom about 2 a.m. Thursday. She called paramedics and he was taken to Hoag Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He apparently died of a heart attack, police said, adding that an autopsy might be performed.

Schmidt is survived by a daughter and his former wife.

Schmidt was born in Los Angeles and attended USC, where he received his bachelor’s and law degrees. He served in the Air Force for two years before entering private law practice in Orange County. During his early years he served as city attorney for Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos and Villa Park.

In 1966, Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown Sr. appointed him to Harbor Municipal Court. His 25 years there made him the longest-serving jurist in Orange County.

“We have lost one of our local legal luminaries,” said Santa Ana attorney Wylie A. Aitken. “I have known Cal for a number of years and I am sad that we have lost a very popular figure.”

But Schmidt’s reputation was marred in the late 1980s when half a dozen judges in Harbor Municipal Court were caught up in a judicial scandal. Amid an investigation by the state, one judge resigned and another retired.

Schmidt, who called the episode the most painful time of his life, was investigated by the Newport Beach Police Department, the Orange County district attorney’s office and finally the state Commission on Judicial Performance. The agencies looked into whether Schmidt had given preferential treatment to friends or made improper campaign contributions. He was never charged with a crime.

In the end, Schmidt was cleared of doing legal favors for a prostitute, but at the same time the judicial commission rebuked the judge for showing favoritism toward the stepdaughter of a wealthy friend and making improper political contributions.

Although there was talk of his pending retirement from the bench, Schmidt said he had no intention of stepping down. His elected term to the court ends in 1992.

Judge Franklin, who had been a friend of Schmidt for nearly 20 years, said Schmidt was “a people person” who was willing to help both his friends and those he did not know.

“When you help vast numbers of people who have a variety of problems, there is a good chance that you are going to get burned,” Franklin said. “If you don’t want to get in trouble, the best thing to do is sit on your fanny. Cal was never afraid of getting burned.”

Franklin said Schmidt was active in the community and had a vast number of friends.

In a profile by the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the writer said a favorite expression among defense lawyers was, “Go see Cal.” That same profile quoted a deputy in the district attorney’s office who called Schmidt “the greatest politician I’ve ever known.” The prosecutor said that “Go see Cal” had to do with more than the judge’s skill in plea bargaining. “He knows everybody in the county,” the attorney concluded.

Schmidt was a member of the California Judges Assn., the American Bar Assn. and the Orange County Bar Assn.

Court Administrator James Peterson said in a press release that Schmidt was extremely proud of his long association with the Girl Scouts of America and was currently serving on the organization’s national board of directors. He was also a past president of the Orange County Girl Scout Council.

Schmidt was affiliated with the Navy League of the United States, the state Easter Seal Society, United Way of Orange County, Youth Employment Service, Commodores of Newport Beach and the 552 Club of Hoag Hospital.