Joseph Lee Call; Former L.A. County Judge

Joseph Lee Call, 93, former Los Angeles County judge. A native of Los Angeles educated at Los Angeles High School and USC, Call played competitive tennis from his student days into his 80s. After a few years in private practice as a lawyer, Call was appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court by Gov. James Rolph Jr. in 1931. Only 27, Call was California’s youngest judge. He was elected presiding judge of the Municipal Court in 1945. Gov. Goodwin Knight elevated Call to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1956. Call was a popular speaker and author of law review articles, primarily dealing with constitutional issues. At his retirement, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors recognized him for 40 years of distinguished public service. On March 18 in Santa Monica of heart failure.