Thomas Patrick White (1888-1968) became the youngest judge in the United States when he was appointed to the Los Angeles City Police Court in 1913. He then worked at a private trial attorney in Los Angeles until he returned to the bench in 1931 when he was appointed as a judge to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. He then served in the California District Court of Appeal, 2nd Appellate Division as Justice and then Presiding Justice until he was appointed Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of California in 1959. The collection consists of scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia relating to White’s judicial career, attorney practice, and participation in civic, religious, and fraternal organizations.

Thomas Patrick White (1888-1968) served as a judge in California for 37 years. He was born on September 27, 1888 in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California and graduated from St. Vincent’s High School in 1904. From 1905 to 1908, White was a railroad clerk with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in Los Angeles. He then attended the University of Southern California Law School, receiving his LL.B. degree and California bar admission in 1911. White began his judicial career in 1913 with his appointment to the Los Angeles City Police Court. At age 25, this made him the youngest judge in the United States. He served on the Police Court until 1919, during which time he married Helen Hickson (1915). Between 1919 and 1931, White worked in private law practice in Los Angeles. Loyola University, Los Angeles awarded him an honorary LL.D. degree in 1925. White was appointed to the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 1931. He served as a Superior Court Judge from 1931 to 1937, and then on the California District Court of Appeal, 2nd Appellate Division, as Justice (1937-1949) and Presiding Justice (1949-1959). He was appointed as an Associate Justice of California’s highest court, the Supreme Court, in 1959. White continued to hear Supreme Court cases following his retirement from the full-time bench in 1962.

1 linear ft. (2 boxes, 4 oversize boxes.)

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