Roosevelt F. Dorn
Encyclopedia
Roosevelt F. Dorn, the former mayor of Inglewood, California
, was born October 29, 1935, in Checotah, Oklahoma
.
Dorn was elected mayor in 1997 to fill the unexpired term of Edward Vincent
, who had become a member of the state Assembly. He was elected to a full term on November 3, 1998, and again in 2003 and 2007.
Dorn served in the United States Air Force
from 1954 to 1958. Joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a deputy, he was a Superior Court
bailiff
from 1961 to 1969. After obtaining a law degree in 1969 from the Whittier Law School
and passing the California State Bar Examination in 1969, Dorn worked as an assistant city attorney for the City of Los Angeles
until 1979. California Governor Jerry Brown
appointed him to the Municipal Court in 1979 and to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1980.
He married Joyce Evelyn Glosson in 1965. They have three children; Bryan Keith, Renee Felicia, and Rochelle Francine.
He is a member of several professional organizations including: National Bar Association, John Langston Bar Association, 100 Black Men of America (past national vice president), 100 Black Men of Los Angeles (past president), U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Conference of Black Mayors (past president), NAACP, New Frontier Democratic Club, and Whittier Alumni Association.
On Sunday, January 24, 2010 Dorn retired as Mayor of Inglewood. On Monday, January 25, 2010 he pled guilty to a misdemeanor conflict of interest charge and paid a fine of $1000; all other charges were dismissed. Although he is barred from holding any future public office in the state of California, the court agreed the misdemeanor is not one of intent or moral turpitude, thus not affecting his ability to practice law.
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, was born October 29, 1935, in Checotah, Oklahoma
Checotah, Oklahoma
Checotah is a city in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States. It was named for Samuel Checote, the first chief of the Creek Nation elected after the Civil War. The population was 3,481 at the 2000 census....
.
Dorn was elected mayor in 1997 to fill the unexpired term of Edward Vincent
Edward Vincent
Edward Vincent was elected to the California State Senate in November 2000, and represents the 25th Senatorial District which includes Compton, Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lynwood, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Pedro, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Vincent and his wife Marilyn have...
, who had become a member of the state Assembly. He was elected to a full term on November 3, 1998, and again in 2003 and 2007.
Dorn served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1954 to 1958. Joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a deputy, he was a Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
from 1961 to 1969. After obtaining a law degree in 1969 from the Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School
Whittier Law School is a law school in Costa Mesa, California. Founded in 1966, it is a fully accredited ABA law school in Orange County, California. A private university, it is part of Whittier College.-History:...
and passing the California State Bar Examination in 1969, Dorn worked as an assistant city attorney for the City of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
until 1979. California 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...
appointed him to the Municipal Court in 1979 and to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1980.
He married Joyce Evelyn Glosson in 1965. They have three children; Bryan Keith, Renee Felicia, and Rochelle Francine.
He is a member of several professional organizations including: National Bar Association, John Langston Bar Association, 100 Black Men of America (past national vice president), 100 Black Men of Los Angeles (past president), U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Conference of Black Mayors (past president), NAACP, New Frontier Democratic Club, and Whittier Alumni Association.
Home loan investigation
A criminal complaint was filed against Dorn on June 26, 2008, alleging he obtained a low-interest $500,000 loan from a fund that was intended to help municipal employees afford to live in town and/or improve their homes. Precipitated by a 2007 California Supreme Court ruling retroactively applied to a loan he applied for and was granted in 2004 (and repaid in full in 2006), Dorn was charged with felony misappropriation of public funds, using an unauthorized loan for private profit, and conflict of interest. He faced up to four years and eight months in state prison if convicted of all counts.On Sunday, January 24, 2010 Dorn retired as Mayor of Inglewood. On Monday, January 25, 2010 he pled guilty to a misdemeanor conflict of interest charge and paid a fine of $1000; all other charges were dismissed. Although he is barred from holding any future public office in the state of California, the court agreed the misdemeanor is not one of intent or moral turpitude, thus not affecting his ability to practice law.