David R. Thompson, a senior judge on U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, dies at 80 [updated]

David R. Thompson, a senior judge on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, has died after an illness, court officials announced. He was 80.

Thompson, of San Diego, died Saturday in San Francisco, where he had traveled to hear oral arguments in several cases.

He was nominated to the appeals court by President Reagan and was appointed in December 1985. The court says he ranked 19th in seniority among its 48 active and senior judges.

Before he became a judge, Thompson's private law practice was in business litigation and general trials. He also served for three years on a committee that advises the judiciary's national governing body.

The complete Times obituary is here.

-- Associated Press

Photo: Judge David R. Thompson in 1985. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[djcionemarco]

Apparently he was a good judge so he will be missed