Descriptive Summary
Administrative Information
Biography
Scope and Content
Accruals
Related Material at the California State Archives
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: David Stirling Papers
Dates: 1977-1982
Collection number: LP258, LP259
Creator:
Stirling, David 1940- , California Legislator
Collection Size:
33 file folders
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: M. David Stirling, Republican, was elected to the California Assembly in the 64th district in 1976, which included Whittier,
La Miranda, La Habra Heights, Walnut, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar, and Rowland Heights. He served until 1982, when he stepped
down to make an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the office of Attorney General. The David Stirling papers consist of Assembly
and Senate bill files from 1977 to 1982.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Administrative Information
Access
While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], David Stirling papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary
of State, Sacramento, California.
Biography
M. David Stirling, Republican, was elected to the California Assembly in the 64th district in 1976, which included Whittier,
La Miranda, La Habra Heights, Walnut, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar, and Rowland Heights. He served until 1982, when he stepped
down to make an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the office of Attorney General.
Stirling was born on September 27, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He left to attend college in Illinois, but returned to
New Orleans to attend Law School at Tulane University. He began practicing law in California in 1965, and established the
law firm of Shay, Stirling, and Jones, in 1968.
The Assembly Member was very active in the community. Some of his notable community roles included President of the East
Whittier Kiwanis Club, President of the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, and the Board of Directors of the East Whittier
YMCA. He was also appointed by Governor Reagan to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board in 1974. Stirling
received various awards and honors for his service, like Whittier’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year. After his career in
the Assembly, Stirling continued to hold various positions of public office, such as Justice of Sacramento County Superior
Court and Chief Deputy Attorney General, according to the California Rosters and California Telephone Directory.
Some topics of Stirling’s political interests include criminal justice, growth of government, quality education and improvement
of the business climate in California.
During his term in the California Legislature, Stirling served on the following committees according to the California Legislature
at Sacramento (Handbooks), Assembly Final History, and Pocket Directory of the California Legislature:
California State Assembly, 1976-1982
-
Standing Committees
- Constitutional Amendments, 1979-1982
- Criminal Justice, 1979-1982
- Human Services, 1981-1982
- Judiciary, 1977-1982
- Labor, Employment, and Consumer Affairs, 1977-1980
- Revenue and Taxation, 1977-1978
- Ways and Means, 1979-1980
-
Subcommittees
- Commerce, Labor, and State Administration, 1979-1980
- Juvenile Justice (Criminal Justice), 1981-1982
-
Joint Committees
- Legislative Budget, 1979-1980
- Prison Facilities and Incarceration Alternatives, 1977-1978
- Revision of the Penal Code, 1981-1982
Scope and Content
The David Stirling papers consist of Assembly and Senate bill files from 1977 to 1982. These files document Stirling's legislative
activity and interests during his terms as a State Assembly member. The bills introduced by Stirling concern a wide array
of subjects. He authored bills including, but not limited to, product liability, sales and property tax exemptions for certain
groups, paternity blood testing, licensing and registration of businesses and tradesmen, and balancing the Federal budget.
However, the bulk of the material covers issues in criminal justice, such as court proceedings, death penalty inmates and
habitual criminals, sentencing, parole, plea bargaining, and prison terms.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Related Material at the California State Archives
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Records
Assembly Constitutional Amendments Committee
Assembly Criminal Justice Committee Records
Assembly Human Services Committee Records
Assembly Judiciary Committee Records
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Records
Assembly Ways and Means Committee Records
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Stirling, David
Criminal law - California
Education - California
Education
Business