Stephen O’Neil; Judge Oversaw Criminal Courts

Stephen O’Neil, the supervising judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s criminal division, was found dead in his Palos Verdes Estates house Tuesday morning after he failed to show up for work, authorities said.

O’Neil, 56, who was responsible for overseeing the operation of criminal courts throughout Los Angeles County, left court early Monday after complaining of flu-like symptoms, according to Presiding Judge James A. Bascue.

When he did not arrive at work Tuesday, his courtroom staff asked deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to check on him.

“They found him deceased” at his home on Via Coronel, Bascue said.

Scott Carrier, a spokesman for the county coroner’s office, said no foul play was suspected. An autopsy was pending, Carrier said.

Bascue said O’Neil, known for his easygoing, approachable style, will be missed.

“Stephen O’Neil was one of the most respected judges in the leadership of the court,” Bascue said. “His loss is a tremendous blow to the bench of our court, as well as a deep personal loss to all of his friends.”

Assistant Supervising Judge David Wesley will assume O’Neil’s responsibilities until a permanent replacement is named, Bascue said.

O’Neil’s wife, 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Patti Jo Kitching, was out of town at a conference at the time of her husband’s death. In addition to Kitching, O’Neil is survived by two grown children, Kristin and Michael.

O’Neil, a native of Little Rock, Ark., and a graduate of the Indiana University School of Law, served nearly 15 years on the bench in Los Angeles County, starting as a Municipal Court judge. He held several positions for the court, including supervisor of the Torrance Branch and assistant supervising judge of Los Angeles criminal courts. In January, Bascue made O’Neil supervising judge.

Before becoming a judge, O’Neil worked as an assistant U.S. attorney and as vice president and senior counsel for Lloyds Bank California.

O’Neil’s death followed another loss for the Los Angeles legal community last week. Well-known defense attorney Barry Levin, who was suffering from a debilitating blood disease, committed suicide Saturday.

As word spread Tuesday about O’Neil’s death, friends and colleagues said they were in disbelief. “It is a shocking loss,” Los Angeles Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley said. “Judge O’Neil made his mark in the short time he served as presiding judge of the Criminal Courts.”

“He was an absolutely wonderful judge,” said Drug Court Judge Stephen A. Marcus, who knew O’Neil for a decade. “He provided leadership . . . and he was very innovative.”

Veteran county prosecutor Stephen Kay also remembered O’Neil as a judge who was both gifted and accessible.

“Whenever any problem came up, he would get everyone together to solve it,” said Kay, head deputy of the district attorney’s Torrance branch. “He always had such an open and friendly personality.”

O’Neil’s accomplishments included serving from 1999 to 2000 as dean of the state’s Judicial College, where all new state judges are trained before taking their assignments in courtrooms.

He taught the ethics of lawyering at Loyola Law School, where there was always a waiting list for his classes, said longtime friend and Loyola law professor Laurie Levenson.

“He was totally beloved by the students,” said Levenson, adding that he was equally admired in the courtroom. “He was someone who could change the mood of a room just by entering it.”