Frances Muñoz, first Latina trial judge in California, dies at 92
By Jennifer Brown
Updated on: March 19, 2010 / 2:07 PM / CBS/AP
Frances Muñoz
Frances L. Muñoz
Frances L. Muñoz
Frances L. Muñoz
Frances L. Muñoz
Frances L. Muñoz
Frances Muñoz, who became the first Latino ever to be on the court in California, was buried March 12, 2010, at the Rancho Coronado National Cemetery in Mission Viejo. She was 92.
Muñoz served 14 years on the San Diego Superior Court.
Born in San Juan Bautista, Puerto Rico, she attended the University of San Francisco’s School of Law.
She passed away without apparent illness in her home in El Cajon, Calif., on March 12, 2010.
Muñoz’s former law partner, Paul Estrada, said he never knew her to be ill.
“She was an elegant lady. She was very gracious,” said Estrada, who has been practicing law for 40 years. “I met her the day she graduated from law school. I asked her what she wanted to do. She said, ‘I want to be a judge.’ I said, ‘Well, that’s a fine choice. You’re going to do well.’ “
During her final workday, Muñoz said she was too busy to stop by her law office and check on the computer.
“Her mind was always a thinking machine,” Estrada said. “She was constantly in the courtroom, and she was always analyzing cases.”
Muñoz’s first case was before her; it was a lawsuit filed by a family who needed to have a cemetery removed from their property. Muñoz went to court every day. The family was awarded $12,000.
After graduating from law school, Muñoz passed the