John T. Racanelli

John T. Racanelli was born on November 14, 1925 in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and the Korean War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant (Aerial Navigator). He went on to earn his B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1949 and his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 1952. After being admitted to the California Bar in 1952, Racanelli began his private law practice specializing in civil and criminal proceedings in both Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County and San Francisco. In 1964, Racanelli was appointed by Governor Brown, Sr. to the Superior Court in Santa Clara County. He was elected to the bench in 1966 and reelected in 1972. Racanelli was named the Presiding Judge in 1971 and the Assistant Presiding Judge in 1977. In 1977, Governor Brown Jr. appointed Racanelli to the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division One, succeeding Presiding Justice John B. Molinari. Racanelli was confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments in June 1977 and took the oath of office on June 3, 1977. He was then confirmed by the electorate in November 1978 and reconfirmed in November 1982. Racanelli served as the Administrative Presiding Judge from January 1981 to February 1987 and retired from the bench in January 1991. After his retirement, he served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at Hastings College of the Law from Fall 1991 to Spring 1992. Racanelli was a member of many organizations, including the National Council on Crime & Delinquency, the California Judges Association, the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Bar Association of San Francisco, The Bay Institute of San Francisco, the Italian-American Heritage Association, The Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association, and the International Academy of Trial Judges. He was also the President of the American Justinian Society, Chairman of the Koshland Civic Unity Awards Committee, and a participant in the National Conference of Metropolitan Courts. Racanelli received numerous awards throughout his career, including the "Brotherhood Award and Torch of Freedom" from the San Jose chapter of B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League, the "Order of Merit" from the President of the Republic of Italy, the "Award for Exemplary Service" from the Italian American Lawyers of California, the "Certificate of Honor" for distinction and merit from Hastings College of the Law, and the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Santa Clara County Bar Association. He was also named "Trial Judge of the Year" by the California Trial Lawyers Association in 1976. Racanelli authored several publications, including "Judicial Evaluation Polls-A Specimen(s) View," "Issues and Justice," and "Sentencing Alternatives: A Guide to Sentencing Alternatives in Santa Clara County." He was also available as a private judge and a member of Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). John T. Racanelli passed away on December 24, 2020.