Justice Tricia Bigelow to resign from appeals court

Presiding Justice Tricia A. Bigelow, regarded as an innovative leader on the 2nd District Court of Appeal, is resigning, effective June 30.

"This was not an easy decision, but I am certain it is the right time for me to move on to the next stage of my life and pursue new challenges," Bigelow said in a statement.

Bigelow has been presiding justice of the 2nd District's Division Eight since 2010. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named her to the court in 2008. She was a trial judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court for 10 years and sat on the Los Angeles Municipal Court for three years.

Before her appointment to the bench, Bigelow worked for the California Attorney General's Office in the Criminal Appeals, Writs and Trials Section. She represented the state before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the California Supreme Court and the California Court of Appeal.

Bigelow has lectured widely and been involved in several bar groups. She was dean of the Bernard E. Witkin California Judicial College from 2006 to 2008, where she was responsible for educating all new judges in the state, and continues to serve as a member of the Judicial College faculty. She co-authored three books for The Rutter Group: "California Three Strikes Sentencing," "Sex Crimes: California Law and Procedure" and "California Felony Sentencing."

Justice Maria E. Stratton called Bigelow's pending departure "heartbreaking."

"It is such a loss for us, for the court and for the state of California. But that's what she wants to do."

Stratton said Bigelow has been a particularly effective leader. "She has appropriate concern about us all keeping up to date and current with our cases. But she's hands off about how we handle our staff but she's a good resource when we have problems."

"She is just really open. She doesn't have an agenda that she's pushing on everybody," Stratton said.

Justice John Shepard Wiley Jr. said he too was "heartbroken" by her pending departure.

"She's been a wonderful leader and colleague: a terrific manager, an innovator, and a careful and judicious thinker," he said. "She and Justice [Beth] Grimes pioneered the use of tentative decisions in Division 8 -- a tremendously good and justly popular departure from tradition. I'll miss working day to day with this dear friend."