About
Judge Patricia J. Titus
Twenty years ago, the People confirmed that Patricia J. Titus was the "Right Choice for Justice," ...
and elected her as Judge of the Superior Court of California for the County of Los Angeles. With Exodus 18:21 as her foundation, Judge Titus’ campaign was set apart from its inception. Because of her character, integrity, professional ability and legacy of community involvement, her candidacy garnered endorsements from a broad cross-section of national, state, and local elected officials, pastors, community leaders, judges and attorneys.
Since February, 2009, Judge Titus has been assigned to the Inglewood Superior Court where she hears requests for domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders and presides over the Drug Court. In honor of her 20th year as a judge and as a community service, she has published the book, “F.R.I.E.N.D.S. for LIFE: 7 Keys to Supporting Loved Ones Experiencing Domestic Violence.” Using the word “friends” as an acronym, Judge Titus educates, enlightens and empowers the reader by providing an easy-to-follow guide on how to support the people experiencing domestic abuse in their lives. It is available on Amazon.com.
Judge Titus served as the Judicial Advisor for the California Legislative Black Caucus’ Black History exhibit, “And Justice for All,” which she named. The touring exhibit, which was on display in the Capitol Rotunda in Sacramento, in San Francisco in the Great Hall of the California Judicial Council and here, in Los Angeles, at the California African American Museum, acknowledged and celebrated the 70th anniversary of the appointment of the first African American Superior Court judge and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the appointment of the first African American Appellate Court justice. In addition, she played a key role in establishing the annual dinner meeting of Black judges in Southern California.
Judge Titus is a frequent participant in Career Days held at our local public and private schools and enjoys being in the position of giving youth a positive view of the courts and the American system of justice. She has served as a judge for the Watts Community Teen Court, a program designed to divert juvenile offenders from a life of crime, which is chronicled on YouTube.com under “Teen Court” and has hosted students of all ages in her courtroom. Judge Titus also enjoys mentoring law students and attorneys seeking judicial positions.
Prior to her election, she enjoyed a 15-year career as a criminal prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. A top-level felony trial attorney, she established a reputation for excellence in trial and received national media acclaim when she convicted a prominent Ladera Heights businessman of the domestic violence drowning murder of Delores “Dee Dee” Jackson, Michael Jackson’s former sister-in-law. In the trial of this case, she worked with the DA’s Trial Support to create a female autopsy figure so that Dee Dee’s 58 blunt force traumatic injuries could be accurately depicted. The female autopsy form remains in use to date. Prior to her trial, all victims had been depicted using a male autopsy figure. Her successful prosecution of this case was profiled on Court TV and is highlighted in the book, “For the People,” which chronicles the history of high-profile prosecutions in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office from 1850-2000. While in the DA’s office, Judge Titus wrote the first draft of legislation now known as “The Safely Surrendered Baby Law (S.B. 1368).” Under this legislation, within 72-hours of birth, a mother may surrender her newborn child confidentially at an emergency room or fire station without fear of prosecution.
Judge Titus is a charter and life member of the Association of African American California Judicial Officers, a life member of the California Association of Black Lawyers, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc., and the John M. Langston Bar Association. She is a member of the American Bar Association Judicial Council, California Judges Association, National Bar Association Judicial Council and the National Association of Women Judges. Judge Titus is one of the judges featured in the book entitled, “Black Judges in America,” published by the National Bar Association and one of the featured authors in the American Bar Association’s publication, “Dear Sisters, Dear Daughters” which provides advice and wisdom to women embarking upon careers in the legal profession. Judge Titus is a past president of Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Inc., a former elected trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and a former board member of the National Bar Association, California Women Lawyers, John M. Langston Bar Association, Multicultural Bar Alliance, and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles.
Judge Titus was born and raised in Los Angeles. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and juris doctorate from the UCLA School of Law. Judge Titus is a member of the Harbor Area Chapter (CA) of The Links, Incorporated and the Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is also a Registered Parliamentarian and a member of the American Institute of Parliamentarians, the Electronic Association of Parliamentarians, and the National Association of Parliamentarians. She is a member of Toastmasters International with the designation of Distinguished Toastmaster and serves as the Toastmasters International Parliamentarian.
In her free time, Judge Titus enjoys bible study, gospel music, papercrafting, shopping, traveling, and riding her Peloton. Recognizing that God gave her the victory twenty years ago so that His name would be glorified and that He called her to be His judge because she knows the letter of the law and understands the spirit of the law, Judge Titus endeavors to render justice with wisdom and compassion every day in her courtroom.