Justice Patricia Bamattre-Manoukian (Ret.) received the 2025 American Inns of Court Professionalism award for the Ninth Circuit, recognizing her decades of service to the judicial branch and legal profession. She received the honor at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference held in last month in Monterey.
Justice Bamattre-Manoukian served as an associate justice on California's Sixth District Court of Appeal until her retirement on April 30, marking more than 41 years of service as a judicial officer.
During her career, she served as a member of the Judicial Council of California from 1990-1993 as well as chair of the council's Appellate Court Security Committee (1993-2025) and vice chair of the council's Court Security Advisory Committee (2014-2025). She also worked on the California Appellate Court Legacy Project from 2012-2025, and received the council's Jurist of the Year award in 2005.
The American Inns of Court Professionalism Award recognizes a lawyer or judge whose life and practice display sterling character and unquestioned integrity, coupled with ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession and the rule of law.
"The justices of the Sixth District Court of Appeal join the National Inns of Court in celebrating this recognition of our now retired colleague," said Mary J. Greenwood, Administrative Presiding Justice.
Governor George Deukmejian appointed Justice Bamattre-Manoukian to the Sixth District Court of Appeal in 1989, becoming the first woman to serve on that court. Her judicial career also includes service at the Santa Clara Superior Court, the Santa Clara Municipal Court, and the Orange Municipal Court.
Before being elevated to the bench, she served as a deputy district attorney in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, becoming one of the first women in the office to prosecute homicides.
More information on Justice Bamattre-Manoukian and the American Inns of Court Professionalism award