Overview
The Hon. Bruce G. Iwasaki is a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California[1]. Iwasaki was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jerry Brown on May 18, 2012[2].
While on the bench, his assignments have included family law matters in the Family Law Division[3]. In 2015, he sat pro tem on the California Court of Appeal[3].
Educational background
Iwasaki earned a B.A., magna cum laude, in psychology and English from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1972[4]. At the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, he completed a J.D. in 1976[4]. He was admitted to the State Bar of California (March 1977).
Career history
After graduating from law school, Iwasaki began his legal career in 1976 at the San Fernando Valley office of Neighborhood Legal Services, first as a staff attorney and later as a directing attorney. Iwasaki joined the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles in 1980, where he served as a staff attorney, senior counsel, and directing attorney over the next eight years. During that period, he served as lead counsel in Lopez v. Heckler (1984), litigation that resulted in the restoration of Social Security disability benefits for tens of thousands of people[5].
Iwasaki joined O'Melveny & Myers LLP as an associate in 1988. After nine years there, he returned to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles as executive director in 1997. In 2006, he became a partner at Lim, Ruger & Kim, LLP, where he remained until he joined the bench.
Among his honors were the Pro Bono Civil Rights Award from the ACLU Foundation of Southern California (1996) and the Antonia Hernandez Public Interest Award from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (1999). He also received the Loren Miller Legal Services Award from the State Bar of California (2004)[5] and the John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award from the American Bar Association Section of Litigation (2006).
Personal life
In discussing his path to the law, Iwasaki said that he viewed law as a means to help people and change their circumstances, and that the history of injustice toward Japanese Americans influenced that decision[3].
Outside the courtroom, his service included president of the City of Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners and work on the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. His public service also included work on the board of directors of the California Bar Foundation and membership on the Commission on the Future of California's Court System[6].
Iwasaki is registered as a Democrat.
References
[1] California Courts — Judges Roster
[2] Governor of California Press Release (May 18, 2012)
[3] Daily Journal — Judicial Profile
[4] Rulings.law — Judge Profile
[5] State Bar of California — 2004 Loren Miller Recipient
[6] California Courts — Commission on the Future of California's Court System Final Report
