Robert Mitsuhiro Takasugi
Encyclopedia
Robert Mitsuhiro Takasugi (September 12, 1930 - August 4, 2009) was a United States federal judge
.
. When he was 12 years old, he and his family were interned in the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
, part of the World War II
internment of 130,000 Japanese Americans.
After the war, Takasugi attended Belmont High School
in Los Angeles. He received a B.S.
from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1953 and a J.D.
from the University of Southern California Law School
in 1959.
during the Korean War
, from 1953 to 1955, acting as a criminal investigator for the Army. After obtaining his law degree, he entered private practice in Los Angeles, California
from 1960 to 1973. He was a Hearing examiner, Los Angeles Police Commission from 1962 to 1965. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan
as a judge on the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1973 to 1975, and elevated by Governor Jerry Brown
to the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1975 to 1976.
On April 14, 1976, Takasugi was nominated by President Gerald Ford
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
vacated by Elisha Avery Crary
. Takasugi was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 6, 1976, and received his commission the following day. He assumed senior status
on September 30, 1996, remaining active in that capacity until April of 2009.
He died on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 78.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Early life
Takasugi was born in Tacoma, WashingtonTacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. When he was 12 years old, he and his family were interned in the Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake War Relocation Center
Tule Lake Segregation Center National Monument was an internment camp in the northern California town of Newell near Tule Lake. It was used in the Japanese American internment during World War II. It was the largest and most controversial of the camps, and did not close until after the war, in...
, part of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
internment of 130,000 Japanese Americans.
After the war, Takasugi attended Belmont High School
Belmont High School (Los Angeles, California)
Belmont Senior High School is a public high school located at 1575 West 2nd Street in the Westlake community of Los Angeles, California. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:...
in Los Angeles. He received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1953 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Southern California Law School
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
in 1959.
Career
He was a Corporal in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, from 1953 to 1955, acting as a criminal investigator for the Army. After obtaining his law degree, he entered private practice in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
from 1960 to 1973. He was a Hearing examiner, Los Angeles Police Commission from 1962 to 1965. He was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
as a judge on the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1973 to 1975, and elevated by Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
to the Los Angeles County Superior Court from 1975 to 1976.
On April 14, 1976, Takasugi was nominated by President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
The United States District Court for the Central District of California serves over 18 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population...
vacated by Elisha Avery Crary
Elisha Avery Crary
Elisha Avery Crary was a United States federal judge.Born in Grundy Center, Iowa, Crary received a B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1929. and a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School in 1929. He was in private practice in Los Angeles, California from 1930 to...
. Takasugi was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 6, 1976, and received his commission the following day. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on September 30, 1996, remaining active in that capacity until April of 2009.
He died on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 78.