Richard Gadbois; Longtime Judge in L.A. Courts

Richard A. Gadbois, semiretired judge of the Los Angeles-based Central District of the U.S. District Court, died Wednesday at his home. He was 64.

Before taking senior status with a reduced caseload this year, Gadbois had served for 25 years as a jurist in three Los Angeles courts. He was named to the Municipal Court in 1971 and elevated to the Superior Court the next year. Former President Ronald Reagan named him to the federal bench in 1982.

Gadbois was particularly remembered for a federal decision he made in 1985, striking down an English-only rule in Municipal Courts. Three municipal judges had ordered that their clerks speak only English in their courtrooms, but Gadbois overturned their rulings.

He made the decision in a discrimination case brought by court clerk and interpreter Alva Gutierrez, who said the rule caused divisiveness among court workers and gave her “stress and strain.” The Board of Supervisors had also asked the lower court judges to rescind their rule.

“This case . . . is vivid testimony that black robes do not by themselves bestow wisdom on those who wear them,” Gadbois wrote.

The judge was born in Omaha, Neb., and attended St. John’s College in Camarillo as a seminarian, then earned his law degree at Loyola University. He also obtained an advanced degree in taxation from USC.

Gadbois began his legal career as a trial prosecutor in the Los Angeles office of the state attorney general. He was also in private practice specializing in tax law, and worked as general counsel for Denny’s restaurants.

He is survived by his wife, Vicki; five sons, Richard III, Gregory, Guy, Geoffrey and Thomas, and a brother, Robert.