Judge Alice A. Lytle Celebrates Her Retirement from the Bench
by Joan Stone
photos by Ken Rabiroff

On November 25, 2002 the Sacramento legal community came out in force to join Judge Alice A. Lytle in a joyful evening of celebration on her retirement after 20 remarkable years on the bench.

In his letter of commendation presented at the celebration dinner, Governor Gray Davis recognized Judge Lytle's invaluable contributions as a judge. He wrote, "Throughout your career, you have been a model of leadership and professional excellence. I applaud your philanthropic efforts and distinguished service to the people of California. By maintaining a steadfast commitment to the principles of fairness and justice, you have made a positive and lasting impact."

"We Did It" Judge Lytle with [l-r] Ruthe Ashley, Windie Scott, Barbara Yonemura, Lilly Spitz (in back) Margaret Lytle, Gwendolyn Lytle, Joan Stone and Doreathea Johnson

Judge Lytle has come a long way from her roots in Harlem, New York. The first in her family of ten children to graduate from college; Judge Lytle earned her B.A. in physiology and public health from Hunter College of New York. "I wanted to be the world's greatest epidemiologist" newly appointed Judge Lytle told Jim Mize in a 1983 article for "The Docket."

Judge Lytle worked as a research technician at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York. She came to San Francisco to work in the department of pediatric cardiology at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

In the meantime, Judge Lytle's passion for civil rights was growing. That passion drew her to the law. "In 1968 Martin Luther King died," she noted, 'and that fact changed my whole life somehow."
As a student at Hastings College of the Law, Judge Lytle became president of the Black Law Students Association. Throughout law school she worked with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The National Housing and Economic Development Law Project, Earl Warren Legal Institute, and in the Alameda public defender's office. Her goal was to be a civil rights lawyer.

After graduating from law school, Judge Lytle eventually made her way to Sacramento where she served in the administration of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. As a result of her strong civil rights background, Governor Brown appointed Judge Lytle as head of the Division of Fair Employment Practices in the Department of Industrial Relations. Ultimately, Judge Lytle was appointed to a cabinet level position, as Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency.

Judge Lytle really came into her own when Governor Brown appointed her to the municipal court bench in the waning hours of his administration. Judge Lytle was the first African American woman to serve on the Sacramento Court and for all but the final two months of her 20-year tenure the only African American woman to serve on the Sacramento Municipal or Superior Courts.

Throughout her tenure Judge Lytle has been consistently recognized for her courageous leadership, compassion, unwavering commitment to the people of California and their fundamental right to equal justice under law.

Judge Lytle did not just recognize problems; she found creative ways to solve them. Concerned about the small children brought to court, Judge Lytle established "La Casita," a children's waiting room where the children would be properly cared for. "La Casita" has served as a model throughout the state and the nation.

As presiding judge of the Juvenile Court, Judge Lytle constantly pursued creative ways of improving the system. Of special note, Judge Lytle participated in the creation of the SacraMentor program - a mentor program to assist juvenile delinquents, in the establishment of the Healthy Teen Mothers Program and as a member of the General Bias and Self -represented Litigants Task Force.

Judge Lytle was also active in judicial education activities including teaching in the areas of drug use by preg nant offenders, landlord-tenant and small claims law.

Judge Lytle has maintained a lifelong commitment to community service. At the dinner, representatives of many of the organizations, with which she has been associated, including the Birthing Project, My Sister's House, St. HOPE Academy, California Wellness Foundation, California Food Policy Advocates and the Child Abuse Prevention Council showered Judge Lytle with loving tributes. Judge Lytle rewarded everyone with a joyful hug.

November 22, 2003 was named Alice Lytle Day in three cities - by Mayor Willie Brown in San Francisco; Mayor Jerry Brown in Oakland and in a moment of spontaneity by council member Lauren Hammond in Sacramento. Those of us privileged to be present at the dinner witnessed an evening of love and joy. Almost 40 family members, fellow judges, friends, government representatives and representatives of community organizations offered tributes. It was only thanks to the special management skills of master and mistress of ceremonies Marty Morgenstern and Windie O. Scott in keeping the program right on schedule, that the wonderful event did not go on for days.

Judge Lytle has gone off to Europe for a well-earned rest and to perfect her cooking skills. We look forwar d to her return. We know we shall hear a lot more of her in the future.