In his 50th year as San Diego judge, David Gill will be retiring this year. Appointed in 1974 by Gov. Ronald Reagan, Gill is among the state’s longest serving jurists. He is a local icon well-known for his patience and fair approach.
“I enjoy working with juries,” Gill explained. “Government has gotten so big and impersonal. Here is a way ordinary people can get involved in the system and make a difference.
“When I first got on the court, I visited the jury lounge and sat in on the jury commissioner’s welcoming comments to prospective jurors. After doing that a few times, I was asked to say a few words, something no judge had ever done.”
Gill continued welcoming jurors for more than 20 years, starting a tradition that continued with other judges.
His “stick-to-itiveness” ion is a trait that has helped define him.
Born in 1934 and largely raised in San Diego, Gill, an only child, moved with his mother from Northern California to San Diego in 1938 after his father died. Years later, his mother re-married and the family remained in San Diego.
Gill graduated San Diego High School in 1952, Stanford University in 1956 and Stanford Law School in 1959. He was itted to the California Bar in 1960.
At an early age, Gill decided law was his calling. “I always liked to challenge people’s comments,” he said. “I was not obnoxious about it. I would just raise the other side. People would say, ‘maybe you should be a lawyer.’ So, I became a lawyer.”
However, Gill’s main ion growing up was music.
“My mother decided I should be involved in music and bought me a clarinet and sheet music while I was in grade school,” he said. “We had not talked about it, but she was right. I was attracted to it.”
Gill changed to saxophone and worked hard with the ion of an artist. He ed the Bonham Brothers Boys Band, a youth marching band started in 1921 by brothers who ran the Bonham Brothers Mortuary. The band played until the 1970s.
Throughout middle school and high school, he also played saxophone in dance bands almost every weekend, amounting to hundreds of gigs.
He continued playing in dance bands during the early 1960s, when rock ‘n’ roll was growing increasing popular. “When Elvis first came along, I thought he would not last,” he said.
Gill’s other ion as a young man was the Army. After graduating law school, he worked at the Pentagon in the Judge Advocate General Corps, representing accused soldiers. Upon returning to San Diego in 1963, he continued service in the Army Reserves for 35 years.
Before his appointment to the Bench, Gill practiced law as San Diego deputy city Attorney, deputy district attorney and in private practice.
As judge, Gill has always been assigned to criminal proceedings, presiding over some of San Diego’s most notable and complex criminal cases, including death penalty cases.
“I want people to have seen me as respectful and a good listener, that regardless of the result, the judge stayed calm and fairly considered both sides,” Gill said of his legacy.
“Perception of politics in the judiciary is dangerous, but as long as judges are respectful, listen and fairly apply the law, there won’t be politics in the courtroom.”
Among his many professional awards, Gill has received the coveted Wm. Enright Civility & Ethics Award.
In retirement Gill, 89, who lives in downtown San Diego with his wife of 30 years, Marcia, plans to continue with public service.
He has served the community in many ways including 45 years on the Salvation Army board, 49 years on the Armed Services YMCA board and 31 years on the Goodwill Industries board. During the past 40 years, he has annually helped oversee the Scouts’ Eagle Scout program, earning a Silver Beaver award, the Scouts’ highest honor for volunteers. And, he has been a member of San Diego’s Lions Club for more than 50 years.
“I do like to stick with something,” Gill said with a smile.
About this series
Goldsmith is a Union-Tribune contributing columnist.
We welcome reader suggestions of people who have done something extraordinary or otherwise educational, inspiring or interesting and who have not received much previous media. Please send suggestions to Jan Goldsmith at [email protected]
