Los Angeles County
Biographies
HON. FRANK R. WILLIS
WILLIS, FRANK R., Judge of
the Superior Court, Los Angeles, California, was born at North Adams,
Massachusetts, August 17, 1854, the son of Albert Willis and Laura P.
(White) Willis. He married at Iowa City, Iowa, March 8, 1882. There are
two children, William H. and Fred A. Willis.
The family moved to Iowa in his youth, and he was
educated there. He attended the State Normal of Iowa, with the class of 1879.
His higher education was obtained at the State University of Iowa, and there he
received his law degree in 1881.
Judge Willis began to practice law at Cherokee, Iowa,
July 1, 1881, and continued there until 1883. In that year he removed to
Los Angeles.
He practiced for two years, meanwhile becoming known in
politics, and in 1886 was chosen attorney for the public administrator. In 1888
he was chosen City Attorney for Redondo Beach and held the place four years. Then, for eight years, performed the duties of the office of
Assistant District Attorney for Los Angeles County.
He was elected judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles
County in the year 1908. He has given special attention to the expedition of
cases, in order that the administration of justice might not cost his county too
much money, and has the remarkable record of disposing of more than 400 cases
per annum.
Judge Willis is a noted criminologist. He has put into
practice the probation system now on the penal code of California. He makes his
probationers put money into the savings bank to show their good faith in
reform. He had in 1911, 150 probationers earning an average of $15 per week.
He has been, since 1901, Professor of Criminal Law and
Procedure at the University of Southern California. He is a member of the Union
League and the Gamut Clubs.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
30 August 2010.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 488, International
News Service, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2010 Marie Hassard .
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES