Hon. Joseph Carson
Judge Joseph J. Carson of the Superior Court of California, County of
Alameda, retired in May 2000, after nearly twenty-eight years of service
in criminal and civil departments. His career includes judicial service
in a municipal and superior court and election to the office of
Presiding Judge in both courts.
Judge Carson was first appointed by Governor Ronald Regan, to the former
Municipal Court, San Leandro-Hayward Judicial District, Alameda County,
in June 1972, where he served until April 1984. While a Judge in the
municipal court, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as Presiding
Judge in 1975 and 1982.
In 1984, Judge Carson was elevated to the Superior Court of California,
County of Alameda and was appointed by Governor George Duekmejian to
serve as a Superior Court Judge. Judge Carson held a variety of
assignments and was elected Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of
California, County of Alameda in 1992 and 1993.
Prior to his judicial career, Judge Joseph Carson was a Deputy District
Attorney for Alameda County between 1966 and 1972 where he was assigned
as a felony trial deputy.
He graduated from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco in 1965 and
received a BA in Business Administration form the University of San
Francisco in 1962. Judge Carson worked his way through high school,
college, and law school performing a wide assortment of jobs including
maintenance and custodial services at the City of San Leandro, service
worker at the Post Office during the holiday season, and as a paper
carrier for the Oakland Tribune.
Judge Carson is a member of the California Judges Association and the
Alameda County Bar Association. He was named Judge of the Year in 1990
by the Alameda-Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge
of the Year in 1986 by the Southern Alameda County Bar Association. He
was awarded the Above and Beyond Award in 1993 by the Alameda-Contra
Costa Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge of the year in 1994 by the
Alameda County Lawyers Club. Judge Carson was a teacher and lecturer who
humored, entertained, and delighted those he taught in judicial
seminars. He was on the faculty at the California Judicial College (CJER),
in Berkeley, in 1982 and 1978. He was an instructor in Criminal Law at
Chabot College in Hayward from 1970-71.
A long time resident of Alameda County, Judge Carson and his wife
Antoinette, reside in San Leandro and have two grown sons.
This page was last modified in January 2008
Disclaimer: Please be advised that the contents of this web site and any other statements contained herein are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be represented as legal advice in any way.