Los Angeles County
Biographies
STEPHEN B. ROBINSON
In designating those who hold commanding vantage ground as leading members of the California Bar there is eminent consistency in according such recognition to Stephen B. Robinson, who has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in the city of Los Angeles for more than thirty years and whose reputation in his chosen calling is far from being of circumscribed order. He has appeared in connection with much important litigation in behalf of the city of Los Angeles, in county and state courts of California.
His knowledge of the science of jurisprudence is broad and exact, as he has brought to his profession marked natural receptivity and a well disciplined mind, besides which his character has been such as to lend dignity and honor to the important and exacting calling in which he has gained so much of success and distinction.
Stephen B. Robinson is a native of Allerton, England, born December 18, 1880, son of the Rev. George and Elizabeth A. (Coleman) Robinson. His father was an active member of the ministry of the Church of England for many years and came to California in 1890 to take charge of the Church of Los Angeles when it was first built. During the period of nearly twenty years in California he was actively engaged in his sacred calling here and in other parts of the state, particularly in Orange county, until his death in 1908. He was loved and admired by many and his death was a severe blow to his church and state.
He was survived by his widow who resided in Santa Monica until her death in 1932. One of her brothers, Joseph James Coleman, was a well known scientist, who collaborated with the noted Scottish scientist, Sir William Thompson.
Stephen B. Robinson received his preliminary education in the public schools of Orange county and took up the study of law in the office of Herbert J. Goudge, a leading member of the Los Angeles Bar. He was admitted to practice law in 1902 and in 1905 opened offices in association with Mr. Goudge. When Mr. Goudge retired from the city attorney’s office, Mr. Robinson became assistant to the city attorney, William B. Mathews, a notable member of the bar. It is truly said the association of Mr. Mathews and Mr. Robinson, which continued for many years, was responsible for carrying through much of the important litigation relating to the water and electric projects of the city. Mr. Robinson served as deputy city attorney from 1906 to 1913, and since that time has been special attorney for the city legal department in water and power litigation and in litigation with competing utility companies. As has been said by one of the leading members of the California Bar, whose interest it is to protect private utility matters, “Mr. Robinson commands the respect and ability of any opponent. He prepares his case well and when he appears in court he is a capable and resourceful trial lawyer.” Many times Mr. Robinson has been sent to Washington, D.C., to protect and carry through matters of extreme importance and business concerns. Although Mr. Goudge passed away in 1929, the firm continues under the same firm name, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Ernest C. Carman being active in its work. Mr. Robinson, while still a member of the firm, is inactive so far as its general practice is concerned, and is now devoting his entire time to the legal affairs of the department of Water and Power of the city, holding the position of counsel to that department.
July 30, 1919, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Belle McDonald, born and reared in Los Angeles, daughter of Duncan and Emily (Fisk) McDonald, the former of whom came to the city in 1876 with the Southern Pacific Railroad and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of two children, Stephen B. Jr., and Kenneth C. By a previous marriage, Mr. Robinson is the father of a son, Julian B. Robinson.
Mr. Robinson is a member of the University Club, Los Angeles bar Association, State Bar of California and the American bar Association.
Transcribed by K.V. Bunker.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 687-689,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 K.V. Bunker.
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