The EDCA Court website has a very good biography here of Judge John F. Moulds III, who recently passed away at age 82.
With permission of the authors, I am also reprinting some memories of Judge Moulds from three criminal defense attorneys:
Suzanne Luban, Stanford Law Clinical Supervising Attorney and Lecturer
I too started my career as a defense lawyer practicing in Judge Moulds' court, in 1988. John's humanity and appreciation of our clients as people deserving respect was always evident, as was the twinkle in his eye when there was occasion to poke fun at me or another one of what then was truly the "court family." Judge Moulds spearheaded the re-naming of "magistrates" to magistrate judges in recognition of the important role he and his colleagues played in the nation's federal courts. In the courtroom, he gave us great latitude to try our cases and listened to our arguments. He made sure our clients understood what was happening. He made me and my colleagues feel like what we in the defense bar had to say truly mattered. He and his amazing staff of attorneys gave deep attention to my many habeas cases. And he and his wonderful wife and life partner Betty welcomed a lucky few into their home for a delicious meal, a glass of wine, and a rousing conversation about culture and travel.
JFM, you will be missed.
Tim Zindel, Assistant Federal Defender
When I started in this office, along with Ann & Linda and many panel attorneys, our bail hearings, discovery disputes, and misdemeanor cases were often heard by someone who understood the function of criminal defense and who treated our clients like persons rather than cattle.
Judge Moulds was the Eastern District’s second magistrate judge. He took the job in the 1980s after almost 20 years as a lawyer with California Rural Legal Assistance and a few years in private practice. Connie was his courtroom deputy when I started and continued with him until Judge Mueller became a mag judge. Being in JFM’s court was a pleasure, always, and I have missed him many times over the years when I have left the courtroom empty-handed and unheard. He was good-humored and, most of all, compassionate.
A very fine man who became a judge not out of self-regard but out of concern for the welfare of others. There were no favorites in his Court and my clients always felt he respected and understood them. I wish you all had had a chance to practice in his court.
Mark Reichel, Sacramento attorney
John Moulds was exactly what everyone would want to see on the bench when they would arrive for that most fundamental of American rights: their "Day in court." His many talents never surpassed each other, they were co equal. His intellect was great and so was his compassion. His good nature and comic spirit was equal to his extremely serious drive for justice. He should have been more than even a District Judge, in a fair world. He was that smart and that qualified. He also never took an advocate's (well, at least me) zeal and excessive passion about a case personal. Simply, we were so lucky, he was so good for us, and we are so much better for him.