Francisca "Frances" Muñoz (September 17, 1930 – October 17, 2022) was an American judge. She was "the first Latina trial judge in California".[1]
Frances Muñoz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francisca Muñoz September 17, 1930 Miami, Arizona |
| Died | October 17, 2022 (aged 92) California |
| Occupation | Judge |
Early life and education
editFrancisca Muñoz was born in Miami, Arizona on September 17, 1930, the daughter of Fernando Muñoz and Benigna Muñoz. Her parents were immigrants from Jalisco; her father worked as a miner in Colorado. She was the fifth of eleven children in the family, and the first of them to graduate from high school. She spent ten years in night school classes while working days, to earn her law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1971, at age 40. Her younger brother Gregory Muñoz also became a judge.[2]
Career
editMuñoz did agricultural labor in her youth,[3] and managed a furniture store while she was in law school. She was a public defender early in career. She was appointed to the Orange County Harbor Judicial District by Governor Jerry Brown in 1978, and was considered "the first Latina judge in California."[1][4] She co-founded the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County,[5] the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund,[6] and the Ralph Luévano Scholarship Foundation.[7] She retired from the bench in 2001.[1]
Muñoz was active as a volunteer in after-school tutoring and enrichment programs. "My philosophy is that you need to get involved with kids at the earliest possible time," she told a reporter in 1998. "Otherwise they lose hope and drop out".[8] In 1991, she appeared on a panel discussion program about "Latinos: Visions for the Future", on KOCE public television.[9] In 2012, she was honored by the Latina Lawyers Bar Association.[10] In 2015 she was honored by the California legislature with a Latino Spirit Award, for "achievement in law and public service".[11]
Personal life
editMuñoz died from cardiac arrest on October 17, 2022, at the age of 92.[1][4] There is a public mural in Costa Mesa, California, titled "Las Poderosas", which includes Frances Muñoz among the eight Orange County women honored.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d San Román, Gabriel (2022-10-27). "Frances Muñoz, first Latina trial judge in California, dies at 92". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ Gurza, Agustin (2000-01-08). "Siblings Help Each Other to Court Success". The Los Angeles Times. pp. B3, B6. Retrieved 2022-12-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Martinez, Rick (1980-02-17). "Ex-grape picker speaks of change". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. 36. Retrieved 2022-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b OCBA Mourns the Passing of Hon. Frances Munoz, Ret., Orange County Bar Association.
- ^ Aguirre, Frederick P. "Origins of the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County". Orange County Hispanic Bar Association. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ Cleeland, Nancy (1997-02-02). "O.C. Fund Invests in Young Latinos' Future". The Los Angeles Times. pp. A1, A18. Retrieved 2022-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Honorable Frances Muñoz ~ Co-Founder". Luévano Foundation. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ Bold, Kathryn (1998-10-06). "After-School Special". The Los Angeles Times. pp. E1, E6. Retrieved 2022-12-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Broeske, Pat H. (1991-05-01). "KOCE Explores Latino Role". The Los Angeles Times. p. 169. Retrieved 2022-12-11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "LLBA's 15th Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner". Katten. October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ Latino Caucus, California Legislature. Latino Spirit Awards, 2015.
- ^ Ponsi, Lou (2020-10-12). "Contributions of influential Latina women brighten new Costa Mesa mural". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2022-12-10.
- ^ Chang, Richard; Henriquez, Crystal (2021-01-29). "Local Artists Create Murals to Honor Legends and Inspire Communities". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2022-12-10.