Victor A. Patton
The Merced FOCUS

The Valley’s legal community is mourning the death of Betty L. Dawson, who served as Merced County’s first female Superior Court presiding judge, before serving on California’s 5th District Court of Appeal.

She died Nov. 17 at age 76 following a battle with Parkinson’s Disease for more than a decade.

Dawson was appointed to the Merced County Superior Court in 2000 by Gov. Gray Davis and became the court’s presiding judge in 2002. She was confirmed to the 5th District Court of Appeal in Sept. 2003 and served there until 2010.

Dawson’s husband Robert Haden told The Merced FOCUS his wife was “a natural” when it came to the law, working as a defense attorney on civil and criminal cases in trial and appellate courts.

Even though she was known as a gifted attorney, she worked extremely hard to excel in her field.

Haden said his wife was born to a working class family in Minnesota and was raised in Santa Rosa. “Betty did not grow up with privilege,” recalled Haden. “I don’t believe she ever took a college prep class in high school. I don’t believe she was encouraged that way. She did it all on her own.”

The couple met at a restaurant in San Francisco back in 1968 and moved to Merced in 1980, where they raised daughters Emily and Margaret. They practiced together at Haden, Dawson & Haden, the law firm founded by Robert’s father.

“Betty had a brilliant legal mind and could see legal issues – and correctly see them almost immediately – and also had a method of thinking that allowed her to analyze them in a good way,” Haden recalled of his wife.

“The other thing is she worked hard. I mean, when she was working on appeals back in the 80s, and we were sharing an office with my father, she would shut the door to her office, and woe be to you if you knocked or interrupted her.”

Dawson was also known to mentor young attorneys. Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira said she first met Dawson in 2010 after moving back to town and befriending her daughter Emily.

Silveira said Dawson set the example that “the sky is the limit” for women who want to soar to great heights in the legal profession. At the same time, she was also very approachable and down to earth.

“She was an amazing person. From a legal standpoint, she was such a pioneer for women to rise through the ranks,” Silveira said. “Her reputation was very steadfast, very fair and a hard worker … She really had a love for the profession, which I admire so much.”

Dawson was also respected by other judges. Merced Superior Court Judge Brian McCabe filled the vacancy on the court that happened after Dawson went to the Court of Appeal.

Dawson was on hand to administer the oath of office to McCabe when he succeeded her. In an interview with The Merced FOCUS, McCabe said he will remember Dawson for her extraordinary intellect and her firm grasp of the cases in front of her.

“Her analytical mind was keen and it was interesting to hear her dissect issues in such a logical and methodical manner,” McCabe said.

McCabe said Dawson had shared during their conversations that being a female attorney in the 1970s and 1980s had its challenges, navigating a career “labyrinth” that was dominated by men.

Still, she was able to succeed by being focused and determined. “She said ‘you just had to work through it,’ and she did,” McCabe said.

He added Dawson would also share her expertise and knowledge with others to help them learn the ropes of a profession that is often “trial by fire.“ Even when Dawson became a judge and began working in Fresno, she remained in Merced and often took the Amtrak to work.

“She will be missed but she definitely will not be forgotten,” McCabe said.

Becoming a Judge

Dawson graduated from San Francisco State and then attended Hastings College of the Law, graduating in 1978, according to her biography on the California Courts website.

She graduated second in her class, was a member of the law review and recipient of the Order of the Coif, according to her online obituary. After law school she taught legal research and writing at Stanford Law School and became a research attorney for Joseph Grodin at the 1st District Court of Appeal.

After years of specializing in criminal law, Dawson pursued being a judge. Prior to her appointment to the Merced Superior Court, she was appointed as a traffic referee in 1992. Two years later, she became a court commissioner.

Haden said his wife decided in 1990 she was going to be a judge, and she went after her goal whole heartedly.

“She didn’t ask me what I thought, which was fairly typical of our entire relationship, (and) not in a bad way, ” Haden laughed. “She made up her mind, that’s what she was going to do, and she went and did it.”

As a judge, Haden said his wife was dedicated to enforcing the law fairly, “no matter what.”

Still, she was not afraid to change her mind, if need be. “And a lot of times, judicial officers have a hard time with that,” Haden said.

Dawson also had a way of persuading her colleagues and friends. Ryan Heller, a prosecutor at the Merced County District Attorney’s Office, said Dawson has a “100% success rate” of changing his mind on many issues.

Heller befriended Dawson and her family after moving to Merced from Los Angeles. Heller said she was always just, fair and inclusive. “That always made an impression on me,” Heller said. “I always found Betty to be an incredibly thoughtful and persuasive person.”

Haden said he and his wife had the opportunity to travel numerous times during their life together, visiting Europe, South America and Africa.

“Not only was she an avid traveler, she was the premier organizer. I just had to show up at the airport,” Haden said. “She was really good at planning, and so I’m a bit lost.”‘

Dawson is survived by her husband Robert, daughter Emily and son-in-law Oscar Sandoval, daughter Margaret and son-in-law Greg Stalfa, and three grandchildren.

A gathering in honor of Judge Betty L. Dawson is scheduled to take place 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 at Bella Luna Restaurant, 350 W Main St. in Merced.

In lieu of flowers, her family is asking for donations to the nonprofit CASA of Merced County.

About the Author

Victor A. Patton is editor-in-chief of The Merced FOCUS.