Honoring a Legal Lion

The USC Law held a reception in May at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel in San Diego to honor Judge Howard B. Turrentine and to celebrate the establishment of an endowment in his name. Pictured (left to right): Monica Miller Walsh, David Walsh '85, Judge Turrentine '39 and Law School Dean Matthew L. Spitzer.

Judge Howard B. Turrentine '39 has had a knack for picking high-caliber law clerks. After passing through his courtroom, where he teaches them that "they will make mistakes but not the same ones twice," many have go on to become top prosecutors, law firm partners and, in the case of Dick Murphy, the mayor of San Diego.

In no small way, their success is a reflection of the judge's high demands for discipline and dedication. Now the clerks have found a way to recognize his years of mentorship. They have created The Honorable Howard B. Turrentine Fund at USC Law to honor his leadership and legacy, which spans more than half a century and culminates in his current position as senior judge of the U.S. District Court in San Diego.

Under the leadership of David M. Walsh '85, a former clerk and now partner at Paul Hastings in Los Angeles, about $170,000 has been raised in founding gifts and pledges toward the fund's minimum goal of $250,000. The endowment will provide tuition support for an accomplished student at USC Law who either resides in San Diego County or completed his or her undergraduate education there. Additionally, the fund will establish the Howard B. Turrentine Video Center at the Law Library, which will provide cutting-edge technology to help law students improve their courtroom skills.

Judge Turrentine has made a point to stay in touch with each of his former clerks--34 in 32 years. (Three have since died). Walsh's wife, Monica Miller, also clerked for Judge Turrentine and is now an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. The judge attended the couple's wedding, as well as the baptism of their son.

"We wanted to come up with a way to thank him for his friendship, leadership and inspiration," says Walsh. "Without question, clerking for him were the best years we had as lawyers."

For his part, Judge Turrentine said he was shocked to learn that his clerks had established the endowment. "They've all made me proud," he says. "I'm pleased as punch at what they've done."

The judge has long been a pillar of the legal profession. Encouraged by the example of his uncle, Lawrence N. Turrentine '13, a Superior Court judge, he enrolled at USC Law. After graduating in 1939, Judge Turrentine served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he worked in private practice for 20 years before being appointed by Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1968 as a San Diego County Superior Court judge. In 1970, President Nixon appointed him to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. From 1948 to 1949, he also served as the president of the San Diego County Bar Association.

In May, the USC Law hosted a reception at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel in San Diego to celebrate the establishment of the fund and honor Judge Turrentine. Guests included Mayor Murphy, Law School Dean Matthew L. Spitzer, David Walsh, Monica Miller, other former law clerks, judges and San Diego-area USC alumni.