Richard Abbe Reminiscences 6065

The California Appellate Court Legacy Project is an interview with two former justices, Steve Stone and Arthur Gilbert, about their colleague, Justice Richard Abbe. Abbe was a district attorney in Shasta County who was opposed to the death penalty and marijuana laws, and had strong views on the environment and politics. He had a unique childhood, as his father was a famous international photographer. Stone and Gilbert met Abbe for the first time at their confirmation hearing in 1982, and he was known for his mismatched clothing and long beard. Abbe was known for his independent thinking and disdain for fame. He slept in Rose Bird's chambers while looking for a place to live and once got lost in the stairwell of a building while going for a run. The three of them had the first day of oral argument in Santa Barbara, which was a big deal for the northern counties.