Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno, considered one of the giants of the county justice system, died early Thursday, March 7. He was 85.
Briseno, who presided over some of the biggest criminal cases in county history, was described this week as patient, dignified and even-handed as both a prosecutor and then a judge.
“He was and will always be known as the gold standard for judicial temperament and integrity,” said veteran defense attorney Paul Meyer, who worked with Briseno in the homicide unit at the Orange County district attorney’s office and later tried cases before him.
“The word ‘inspiration’ is way too mild when you talk about Frank,” Meyer said, adding that Briseno was an expert in building trust. “He was a legendary judge … at the top of the top of the judiciary.”
A memo from Superior Court Presiding Judge Maria D. Hernandez to court staff said Briseno died surrounded by family members and other loved ones.
“Judge Briseno leaves an illustrious legacy not only on our court but also on the broader legal community in Orange County and the California judiciary,” Hernandez wrote. “His legacy is a testament to a remarkable legal career and a profound impact on the lives of many.”
Briseno was a Vietnam-era U.S. Marine who earned the Bronze Star and the Joint Service Commendation Medal, according to Hernandez. He was admitted to the state bar in 1969.
Briseno joined the Orange County district attorney’s office and led its homicide unit from 1975 to 1977. He was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to the then-Santa Ana Municipal Court as one of the youngest judges in the state and the second Latino judge in Orange County, according to Hernandez.
Briseno moved to the Orange County Superior Court in 1979 and retired from the bench in 2014 after 37 years wielding the gavel, one of the longest tenures for a judge in county history. Even in retirement, he continued his service as an assigned judge for more…
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