Donald R. Wright

In 1970, Chief Justice Donald R. Wright assumed office and became Chair of the Judicial Council following his appointment by Governor Ronald Reagan. He was the first Chief Justice in this era with experience as a trial judge. Indeed, Chief Justice Wright had served at all levels of the California court system: municipal court (1953–1961), superior court in Los Angeles County (1961–1968), and Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District (1968–1970).

As Chair of the Judicial Council, the tenure of Wright was once described as a “golden era of court administration in California” with more interactions with the Legislature and the Governor’s Office.

One of the aspects of the council’s role is to make recommendations to the Legislature, including no-fault divorce and the creation of a state public defender’s office. Wright and Administrative Director of the Courts Ralph N. Kleps established the Select Committee on Trial Court Delay, which helped to recommend a unified trial court system in California. After his retirement from the bench in 1977, he turned his efforts to community and civic affairs, joining the Board of Councilors of the University of Southern California Law Center and the board of the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.