Jerry Pacht facts for kids
Mendel Jerome Pacht (born January 24, 1922 – died April 1, 1997) was an American judge. He worked on the California Superior Court, which is a high-level court in the state.
Pacht was born in Los Angeles. He studied at the UCLA and then worked briefly at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a famous movie studio. During World War II, he joined the Army as a lieutenant. After the war, he earned a law degree from USC. He became a lawyer who specialized in cases about books and movies.
He tried twice to become a member of Congress but was not elected. He was also a leader for the Democratic Party in Los Angeles County. Pacht led the legal team for the local American Civil Liberties Union, which works to protect people's rights. He also helped manage the legal defense fund for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization that fights for equal rights for African Americans.
Contents
Judge Pacht's Career
In 1965, Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown appointed Pacht to the Los Angeles Municipal Court. The next year, he was promoted to the Superior Court bench. Judge Pacht made 135 important decisions during his time as a judge.
Key Court Decisions
Judge Pacht's rulings helped shape important laws and rights. Here are two examples of his significant decisions:
Protecting a Professor's Job
One of his famous rulings involved a professor named Angela Davis. The University of California had a rule that prevented them from hiring people with certain political beliefs. Judge Pacht said that the university could not fire Angela Davis from her teaching job at UCLA. This decision caused some people to try and remove him from his position, but they were not successful.
Fairness in Property Seizures
Another important decision by Judge Pacht changed an old law. This 90-year-old law allowed police officers to take people's personal belongings if they fell behind on payments for things they bought. Judge Pacht ruled that people had the right to go to court and challenge the seizure of their property. This meant that their belongings could not be taken without a fair hearing.
Personal Life
Mendel Pacht was the son of Judge Isaac Pacht and Rose Rudolph. He was married to Judith Pacht. He passed away on April 1, 1997, in Santa Monica, California, due to a stroke.
