In Tribute - Judge Raymond Fisher (1939 - 2020)

The Honorable Raymond C. Fisher was born months before the start of World War II and passed away weeks before the full force of Covid-19 reached our shores. Between those bookend events of global import, he lived a life of great purpose. Cesar Chavez once wrote that “[o]ur lives are all that really belong to us[,] so how we use our lives determines what kind of people we are.” By that measure, Judge Fisher was an extraordinary person who used his life in the pursuit of justice and equality.  

Judge Fisher joined WJC’s board of directors in 2004, less than five years after he was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by then president Bill Clinton. Prior to joining the Ninth Circuit, Fisher served as Associate Attorney General -- the third highest ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice. During his tenure as WJC Board Chair, Judge Fisher steered the organization through a significant change in leadership.

Throughout his time on the WJC board, Judge Fisher was appreciated for his wisdom and insights by all those who grew close to him. He occupies a special place in the hearts of his fellow board members and his former clerks. One who holds both honors is WJC Vice-President Kalpana Srinivasan.

“Judge Fisher made enormous and lasting contributions to the rule of law and the pursuit of justice -- from his storied tenure on the bench to his work at the Department of Justice to his time on the L.A. Police Commission and beyond,” said Srinivasan. “He matched his intellectual rigor with thoughtfulness, reason, and compassion. His commitment to achieving a more fair and just society remains an inspiration to us all.”

WJC is grateful for the many articles extolling Judge Fisher and chronicling his accomplishments in public service, including the more than 400 opinions he produced as a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals. (Police Reformer Passes, Ninth Circuit Mourns, A Rare Judge and Fisher in Focus).For more on Judge Fisher’s role in Los Angeles police reform, see The Legacy of the Christopher Commission, Towards Accountability or Riots and Rebellions. 

Judge Fisher is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Amy; his son, Jeff; and four grandchildren. The family welcomes contributions to The Honorable Raymond and Nancy Fisher Scholarship Fund at the University of California at Santa Barbara. 

WJC Offers Tools for Relational Health During Covid-19

Since the World Health Organization designated covid-19 as a pandemic, we have seen widespread cancellations of large public gatherings and a flood of emails as government officials share tools and tips for personal health and hygiene.

“Just as people are learning how to mind their personal hygiene during covid-19, we also have an opportunity to practice sound social and emotional hygiene,” said Elissa Barrett, Executive Director of the Western Justice Center (WJC).

WJC’s mission is to empower people to strengthen their communities by growing the conflict resolution capacity of youth, educators, schools, and community partners.

In keeping with sound health and safety practices, WJC has postponed its 17th Annual Peer Mediation Invitational (PMI), which had been set for March 24 and 25 at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. At PMI, the nearly 200 student peer mediators who attend each year get to sharpen their skills, meet other mediators from around Southern California, and be celebrated as leaders in their school communities. Many peer mediation programs in SoCal have been started by graduates of ABC’s of Conflict – the four-day intensive conflict resolution education program that WJC offers to educators, counselors and administrators every summer.

“After postponing PMI, we asked ourselves: How can we be of service during these challenging times? What are the tools that we teach student peer mediators that would actually serve all of us right now?” shared Shaune Gatlin, Program Director for Conflict Resolution Education at WJC.

In addition to getting ready to offer virtual lessons on conflict resolution, WJC has created Tools for Relational Health During Covid-19 to help people navigate the inter-personal stress that often arises when people feel afraid or anxious. 

“We hope these tools help kids, parents and teachers be a source of calm and help others to carry on,” said Barrett.

“We hope our Tools for Relational Health call people to be their best selves. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ‘Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You only need a heart full of grace [and a] soul generated by love.’”

For more details, call 626.584.7494.