JUDGE “FIO” LOPARDO
Judge Lopardo was born in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., the 10th of 14 children of Italian immigrants. Judge Lopardo spoke Italian in the family home as a child. He learned English in school and later added German, French, and Spanish while majoring in languages and literature at the University of Notre Dame. Lopardo graduated in May 1941 from University of Notre Dame. To finance his undergraduate education, he worked three jobs – a waiter and at two cobbler stores, one at Notre Dame and the other off-campus. After graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Judge Lopardo entered Harvard University School of Law.
World War II interrupted Judge Lopardo’s legal education. After completion of his first year at Harvard Law School, he became an officer in the United States Marine Corps in 1942. During the battle of Iwo Jima, he served as a company commander in 28th Marines, the regiment that raised the American Flag on Mt. Suribachi.
He was decorated for leading his company of 360 men, of which only 11 were not killed or wounded during the battle. He served in Japan during the post war occupation, and left the Marine Corps as a Major. After the war, Judge Lopardo returned to his studies.
While awaiting readmission to Harvard Law School, he enrolled in a master’s program in international business at the University of Southern California. He earned his master’s degree in one year instead of two by taking a full load of day and evening classes. Judge Lopardo then returned to Harvard Law school and completed work for his law degree in 1948. After earning his law degree, Judge Lopardo practiced civil law with a small firm in Los Angeles. He traveled to San Diego periodically and happened to pass through a sleepy little town named Escondido. He felt it would be the ideal place to raise his family and horses. Judge Lopardo moved to Escondido in late 1960 and continued to practice civil law for eleven years until Governor Reagan appointed him to the Superior Court in 1971. He earned a reputation as a highly intelligent, resourceful, and aggressive lawyer.
Judge Lopardo’s habit of extremely thorough case preparation was a hallmark of his legal reputation. Judge Lopardo’s community service included serving on the Escondido Union School District Board of Trustees and director of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce.
When Judge Lopardo was first appointed to the Superior Court, he was appalled by what he perceived to be pervasive incompetence of many lawyers. He called upon several seasoned North County attorneys and created “Lopardo’s Academy” – a forerunner of the Inns of Court. He literally held night school at the courthouse using experienced attorneys to instruct young or inexperienced attorneys. He mentored hundreds of attorneys in this way and by his demands on them in his courtroom. The most notable were for them to be on time and prepared. Judge Lopardo was known for his punctuality and preparation.
He demanded no less from others. An attorney arriving late or unprepared suffered his wrath and a fine payable to the North County Branch of the San Diego County Law Library. In the early 1960’s, Judge Lopardo helped form the San Diego County Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a prestigious national organization for improvement of trial lawyers.
He also shared his judicial expertise to mentor judges, serving on the faculties of the California Judges College, Center for Judicial Research and Education and the National Judicial College. Judge Lopardo was one of the first full-time judges in North County. He was a strong advocate for expansion of the North County Branch of the Court. He always believed North County cases should be tried in North County and decided by North County jurors. To further facilitate this, Judge Lopardo was a moving force to obtain the North County Branch of the San Diego County Law Library. He not only helped raise funds to build it through North County Bar Association functions but, had those tardy and otherwise errant lawyers in his courtroom contribute to this worthy cause. Judge Lopardo ended 16 years of distinguished service and dedication as a judge when he retired from the Court in 1987. He continued his service to the legal community for another decade as a private judge, specializing in complex civil cases.
Judge Lopardo passed on January 24, 2004. In his honor, in September 2008 Chapter 303 became known as the Fiorenzo V. Lopardo Chapter of the American Inns of Court.
Observations About Judge Lopardo
“He did what jurors and judges are supposed to do-he took the facts and applied them to the law.” Hon. Runston Maino (Judge of the Superior Court, Retired)
“The Pro Tem Judge Program, initiated by Judge Lopardo in 1973-1974, encouraged and enhance the dialogue between the bench and bar, an attribute recognized today by virtually every San Diego judge assigned to this area.” Atty. Charles W. Salter
“I’ve heard it said by more than one competent attorney presenting a motion or case in Fio’s court that it seemed during the argument that he knew more about the case than they did.” Hon. Charles W. Froehlich, Jr. (4th District Court of Appeal, Retired)
“He was a teacher and mentor. He may have had a rough exterior, but the man was all heart”. Hon. David B. Moon, Jr. (Judge of the Superior Court, Retired)
“He demanded of those around him his own greatest attributes — punctuality, integrity, and plain hard work. He gave me, and many others, a foundation an appreciation for the practice of law we would never have found elsewhere.” Atty. Dorthy A. Cole
“Often he would agree to meet with me at 7:00 or 7:30 a.m., at a local coffee shop, to discuss the practical and technical aspects of lawyering, case and client management, and the application of engaging the law with the legal system. Little did I know then that I was learning from the master. He was good- natured, patient and generous with his time.” Atty. Edward C. Dowd
“He always believed cases should be tried on the facts of the case, not the personalities of the people trying the case.” Atty. (and son) Stephen Lopardo
“Fio Lopardo was a legend when he was on the bench, a first-rate human being and first-rate lawyer and judge.” Justice Gilbert Nares (4th District Court of Appeal, retired)