Oct. 13, 2012

District Court commemorates 'gavel passing' in ceremony

At the Spring Street federal courthouse in Los Angeles, the U.S. District Court for the Central District last month celebrated the passing of the gavel from former Chief Judge Audrey B. Collins to incoming Chief Judge George H. King. The Sept. 28 event drew federal and state judges, court staff and an assortment of practitioners, family members and friends. A prevailing theme was what King called Collins' "unfailing courtesy" to all those around her — clerks, colleagues, litigants and counsel. King officially took over as chief judge on Sept. 14. Collins oversaw the establishment of numerous innovative programs directed at speeding judicial proceedings and rehabilitating criminal defendants. She also worked to overcome challenges, including courthouse security, the ongoing effort to build a new federal courthouse in Los Angeles and the court's limited resources. In brief remarks, King said such financial constraints "will unfortunately be our constant companions" during his four-year term as chief judge, but he pledged to protect a minimum "below which we cannot go and carry out our constitutional duty." -Ben Adlin