Charles Older
Charles Older | |
---|---|
Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court | |
In office 1967–1987 | |
Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
Personal details | |
Born | United States Air Force Reserve | September 29, 1917
Years of service | 1940–1945 1950–1952 |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Order of the Cloud and Banner (China) |
Charles Herman Older (September 29, 1917 – June 17, 2006) was an American judge and flying ace. He was the third highest scoring ace of the American Volunteer Group (the "Flying Tigers")[1] and later the judge in the Charles Manson murder trial.[2]
Early life
Older was born in Hanford, California, on September 29, 1917.[3]
He earned a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1939.[3]
Military service
He became a pilot in the
In 1950, he was called back to active duty, flying the
Law career
He graduated from
His most famous case was the Charles Manson trial.[5] The trial lasted 10 months, the longest in American history at the time. Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi praised Older for his firm but fair handling of the difficult case. At one point, Manson tried to attack the judge and had to be restrained by bailiffs.
Death
On June 17, 2006, he died at the age of 88 of complications from a fall in his home in West Los Angeles.[2] He was survived by his wife, Catherine Day Older, and three daughters.[2]
References
- ^ Rossi, J.R. "3rd Squadron Roster The Flying Tigers". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
- ^ a b c d "Charles Older, 88; Presided Over Manson Trial". The Washington Post. Associated Press. June 17, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Douglas Martin (June 21, 2006). "Charles H. Older, 88, Judge Who Presided at Manson Trial, Dies". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Ford, Daniel (March 14, 2016). Tales of the Flying Tigers: Five Books About the American Volunteer Group, Mercenary Heroes of Burma and China. Daniel Ford. pp. 117–. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Rossi, J.R. "Older biography". The Flying Tigers – American Volunteer Group – Chinese Air Force.
- ^ Jocelyn Stewart (July 7, 2006). "Manson case judge also a war hero". Los Angeles Times.