11 minute read
Retired Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James L. Long Remembered
By Shanāe Buffington
Shanāe Buffington is the President of the Sacramento County Bar Association. She can be reached at Shanae.Buffington@edd.ca.gov.
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On June 30, 2020, the legal community lost a champion for justice. Judge James L. Long (Ret.), who presided over difficult capital punishment and civil action cases at the Sacramento County Superior Court, passed away at the age of 82. Born in 1937 in Winter Garden, Florida, Judge Long migrated west with his family and settled in the Oak Park community of Sacramento in the early 1940’s. In 1955, Judge Long graduated from Christian Brothers High School, one of Sacramento’s prestigious prep schools, on a scholarship. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from San Jose College where he played shortstop for the Spartans. After graduating college, he worked for Sacramento County as a deputy probation officer and then later as a juvenile hall supervisor. During an eight year stint in the Army Reserve Corps, Judge Long decided to enroll at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., a school he chose for its strong emphasis on civil rights. After receiving his law degree in 1967, he returned to Sacramento where he worked as a graduate legal assistant for the Legal Aid Society of Sacramento, and later the California State Legislative Counsel Bureau.
In 1970, Judge Long opened his solo practice in the heart of Oak Park and, for a few years, was joined by his older sister June Long, retired deputy attorney general. However, during this time, Judge Long witnessed the transformation of his former neighborhood from a community of working-class families to one wrought with race riots and violent clashes between law enforcement and the growing African-American community. One contributing factor was the interstate freeway expansion programs that began in the 1960’s. These development programs created isolated areas of poverty and prosperity, declining property values, and flight to suburban areas from the inner city. Yet, Judge Long never forgot his roots. He maintained his practice in Oak Park for twelve years taking on pro bono cases and representing indigent clients.
Among Judge Long’s biggest
cases was his defense of the “Oak Park Four,” a group of young black men accused of killing a white police officer. The case was ultimately dismissed. Donald H. Heller, a local criminal defense attorney, said, “I knew Jimmy Long for 47 years. He was a wonderful defense lawyer and even better human being. He had a distinguished career on the bench and he will be missed by everyone
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WMBA 2014 Mixer and Legal Fusion photographs courtesy of Robert Maryland and WMBA former president, Renee Carter.
1. Hon. Troy L. Nunley congratulating Hon. Long for receiving the Nathaniel S. Colley, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. 2. (L to R) Hon. Vance Raye, Robert Buccola, Donald Heller, and Hon. David De Alba. 3. (L to R) Hon. Long, Dawn Silva, and Hon. Morrison C. England, Jr. 4. Hon. Long with his court clerks Denise Lashley and Kathy Klemencic. 5. (L to R) John Virga, Hon. Long, and Hon. Renard Shepard (Ret.).
who ever encountered him. I viewed Jimmy as my brother. I loved him, and will miss him for the rest of my life.”
While in practice, Judge Long also served as Special Legal Counsel to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Western Region, where he investigated claims of race discrimination. From 1969 through 1972, Judge Long taught criminal justice classes at California State University, Sacramento (CSU). In 1975, he co-authored a book titled American Minorities: The Justice Issue with Dr. Wilmer Leon, Paul Weston, and his brother Elton Long, who was a professor of criminal justice for 30 years at CSU.
On February 1, 1982, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., appointed him to the Sacramento County Superior Court where he served until his retirement in 2011. During Judge Long’s 29 years on
the bench, he never lost his sense of community – a value his mother instilled in him and his siblings. Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie said, “My heart broke when I received that evening text letting me know that Judge Long was in the hospital. I was stricken with an immediate sadness in knowing that I would probably not see him again and yet I was also filled with a deep sense of pride in having had the sheer privilege of knowing him and being in his presence. Judge Long was a confidant, a truth teller, and a vivid living legend who embodied all that is possible when we are focused, industrious and committed to our work and our community. While Judge Long will be deeply missed, his brilliance, clarity of purpose, generosity of time and spirit and selfless efforts to support the next generation of students, lawyers and judges leaves a clear playbook for those who dare to pick up the baton and walk in his path.”
Judge Long mentored at-risk, underprivileged youth and exposed them to life beyond the neighborhood. But he didn’t stop there. He was also a mentor to many attorneys and judges who sought guidance on advancing their career in the local judicial system.
Former Presiding Judge David De Alba said, “Jimmy Long was the best. He served on our court for 29 years and was like no other who ever sat on this bench before or after him. He was a friend to everyone, mentored many and was loved by all.”
“My judicial career would not have ever occurred without the assistance of Jimmy Long. He was the absolute first person who encouraged me to apply for a judgeship,” said Chief U.S. District Judge Emeritus Morrison C. England, Jr. “I had doubts but the judge told me ‘stop doubting yourself’ and that contin
and federal judge. My personal relationship with Jimmy was one that I will always cherish and will never ever forget.”
U.S. District Judge Troy L. NunLong will be remembered as an adall. “Judge Long helped so many different people from judges, attorto and worked to make this community a better place. He was a very important mentor to me. Every conversation that I had with him always ended the same way: ‘strike a blow out of work. I remember my father urging me to contact Judge Long. At
eventually I called his clerk to sched
ule a meeting. When I arrived to his
courtroom, a proceeding was under
O COU ley likewise commented that Judge NTY BAR ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE vocate for justice, and mentor to Howe Ave., #100 • Sacramento, CA 95825 425 University Ave., Suite 120 • Sacramento, CA 95825
way after which Judge Long called for justice.’” 1/2 Page Ad NOV/DEC After passing the bar during the tail end of the Great Recession, I was Judge Van Camp
me up to his bench. I introduced myself, and he invited me into his chambers. I left our meeting that day #1 AD PROOF
encouraged by his words. He also
provided a few prospective job leads.
This is one of many fond memories I neys, neighbors, young people, and first, I was hesitant because I did not have of Judge Long’s thoughtfulness and willingness to help. Another example of Judge Long’s willingness to give back occurred in SCBA Annual Meeting Judge Brian R. Van Camp 2002 when he dispersed 1.5 million in unclaimed money from a class action settlement. He directed twothirds of the money to St. Hope CorHonoring Distinguished Attorney of the Year Superior Court of CA, County of Sacramento (Ret.) • Business & Commercial poration, a nonprofit that operates • charter schools in Oak Park. The remaining money was divided among Justice Arthur Scotland Real Estate • a legal aid program, a legal advocacy • Partnership & Shareholder organization serving children, and a Disputes school for homeless children. • “Judge Long was a man of remarkable character. Doing the right Installing SCBA • thing both on and off the bench was instinctual for him. His hallmark was how he constantly and tirelessly Officers & Directors gave of himself. Judge Long encouraged so many people of all ages to Recognizing 100% Firms be their very best. He believed that
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SACRAMENTO LAWYER | Summer 2020 | www.sacbar.org 32 Requires Knowledge Beyond Our Years people often deserve a helping hand but equally that those who receive DATE an opportunity in life, better work as hard as they can to make the inMonday vestment in them worthwhile,” said December 15, 2014 Robert Buccola of Dreyer, Babich, Buccola, Wood, Campora, LLP. “We lost not only a brilliant, hard-workTIME ing judge, but a pillar of the commu11:30 Check in nity, a friend, a mentor to people of all stations in life, and a hero to so 12:00 Lunch many. Judge Long left a pair of shoes that aren’t likely going to be filled, at PLACE least not the way he filled them.” On the bench, Judge Long had a Sheraton Grand reputation for being fair, firm, and 1230 J Street efficient when presiding over cases. “Trial attorneys looked forward to
being assigned out to trial in front of Jimmy Long. Judge Long took the most complex, high profile cases and provided counsel a careful, clean, fair trial. He was humble, and often prefaced a discussion by saying, ‘I had a simple law office in Oak Park, so break it down for me.’ But he already understood the subtle issues and wanted the attorneys to articulate their reasoning. He took that Oak Park law office over from William K. Morgan, who went on to become the first Black judge appointed to the Sacramento Superior Court,” said Jessie Morris, Jr. from the Sacramento Public Defender’s office.
“Jimmy Long was known for getting to the heart of things quickly and attorneys in his courtroom knew to do the same. Some years back at a preliminary hearing roll call, attorneys were required to estimate how long their hearing might take, and the presiding judge then assigned the case to a department. On one occasion, the judge assigned the case to Judge Long and the attorney quickly cut her estimated time in half, as every other attorney knowingly chuckled. Judge Long was a beacon of justice during his 29 years on the bench, and was held in affection and esteem by all who knew him,” said Morris.
Judge Long received many awards and honors that are too numerous to recount. In 1998, he was named the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Judge of the Year. In 2007, he was awarded the Humanitarian Judge of the Year by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2008, he received the Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award. In 2014, the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association presented Judge Long with the Nathaniel S. Colley, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication to equality and fairness in administering justice. In 2017, the California Association of Black Lawyers’ Judicial Section (North) presented Judge Long with a crystal gavel award. In recognition of Judge Long’s unwavering commitment to serve underserved communities, the Roseville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. established a community service award in his name.
Judge Long served as an example, not only in the African-American community, but for the larger Sacramento community that one can overcome marginal circumstances through hard work, dedication and personal sacrifice. Judge Long lived to help others, and he was committed to promoting the values of equal justice and human rights. Let us continue Judge Long’s legacy and the many others before him who have fought to break down barriers that threaten our civil rights, especially those of the most vulnerable populations.
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