Stanley W. Mussell

Associate Justice, August 14, 1948 - January 4, 1960

Stanley Wright Mussell was born in Manitoba, Canada, on March 30, 1890. In 1898, he moved to California where he attended grammar school in Artesia and later high school in Redlands. He graduated from the University of Southern California with his law degree in 1914. The vast majority of his professional career was that of a public servant. Preceding his judicial service, he served as an appeal agent for the selective service draft for World War II, a deputy sheriff for San Bernardino County, a deputy District Attorney for San Bernardino County and later its District Attorney from 1930 to 1937. He then entered private practice until his appointment in 1946 to the San Bernardino County Superior Court. Before his appointment to the bench, he was a vice president of the State Bar Association and a member of its Board of Governors. On August 14, 1948, Governor Earl Warren appointed him as an Associate Justice to the Fourth District Court of Appeal and he took the oath of office the same day. He served as a member on the Judicial Council for two years. He retired on January 4, 1960, remaining active in many fraternal organizations. He died in his La Jolla home on June 25, 1970.