Los Angeles County
Biographies
LEWIS REED
WORKS
A member of the California bar who is leaving the impress of his individuality on the legal history of the state is Judge Lewis R. Works, Presiding Justice of the California District Court of Appeal (second division) at Los Angeles. He has been prominent for many years in public affairs, and in private practice made a name for himself as an outstanding trial lawyer.
Judge Works was born in 1869 at Vevay, Ind., where he attended public schools. He moved with his parents to San Diego, Calif., while still quite young and attended school in that city for two years. In 1888 he graduated from San Diego Commercial College and he then engaged in the study of law, in 1890 under his father's preceptorship, being admitted to the California bar in 1892.
In partnership with his father, Judge John D. Works, he practiced at San Diego until 1901, then came to Los Angeles and became a member of the firm of Works, Lee & Works. The firm became Works & Works in 1909. After serving for two years as first assistant in the City Attorney's office Judge Works rejoined his father in private practice, under the firm name of John D. and L. R. Works, and so remained until Judge Works' appointment to the bench of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in 1913. He served in this capacity until 1921, when he became Associate Justice of the California District Court of Appeal. In 1924 he was elected for a full 12-year term on this bench as an Associate Justice. However, in 1926 when Judge Finlayson went to the Supreme bench, Judge Works was appointed Presiding Justice.
Judge Works has proven himself possessed of the ideal qualifications of the jurist. Of unquestioned integrity, without taint of prejudice and thoroughly conversant with the law, he has handed down many important divisions, and earned the respect and esteem of both bench and bar.
While engaged in the general practice of law Judge Works specialized in trial work. He was President of the Board which framed the present Los Angeles County charter, and served on numerous boards which prepared amendments to the city charter. He also served as a member of the California Legislature from 1899 to 1901, was President of the Los Angeles Board of Public Utilities in 1911.
Judge Works is also well known for his writings, being the author of many articles of civic matters, as well as a chapter in "Regulation of Public Utilities," an article on county government in a volume issued by the American Academy of Political and Social Science and various other works.
He holds membership in the American Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association and State Bar of California. He is also a member of the University Club of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Club, which he has served as President, and Brentwood Country Club, of which he is President and a Director. In 1924 he married Alice L. Pentecost. He has one son, Pierce, by a previous marriage.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: "American Blue Book California Lawyers"
by H. James Boswell, Pages
78-79, Produced by H.
James Boswell, 1928.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPIES