by Lisa Boghosian Papas
When Emily was 4-years-old, she told her mother, the Honorable Alice E. Altoon, that she wanted to be a Judge one day. By the age of 8, Emily had switched her mind and asked her Mom if it would be okay if she was a teacher instead. Now at the age of 14, Emily's latest ambitions have yet to be revealed. Whatever they end up, the Judge is convinced of her daughter's right to choice-an idea stemming not from radical feminist beliefs but from real life experience itself.
Having launched her legal career when she was 31-years-old and a mother of two, Judge Altoon has set an example for all-that with clear vision and determination anything is possible.
But as commitments go, Judge Altoon's rests on a plane above most. Today, serving as a Judge in the Los Angeles Judicial District, Van Nuys Branch Court, she is faced with the task of being arbitrator, teacher and psychologist to the accused. She is also last resort on issues such as domestic violence, rape, murder, child abuse, gang violence, drug abuse and driving under the influence, and is responsible for instructing the jurors and guiding the attorneys. Her reputation is as a tough, but fair Judge whose tone of formality and comfort makes the entire Court experience positive for everyone.
Unfortunately, she notes, that now means providing guidance and sentencing to an increasing number of Armenian immigrants brought in for cases such as murder, spousal abuse, theft, and drugs. "It hurts me immensely to see so many Armenians in the system today," remarks Judge Altoon. "The effect this new generation has had on the hardworking and honorable reputation that our Armenian forefathers built is tremendous and will take years to reverse."
As an immigrant herself, arriving in the United States in 1953, Judge Altoon, formerly Alice Churukian, believes it was the foundation set forth by her family that has served as an inspiration in her career. After leaving Syria, the family of seven, headed by Dr. Vahe and Emilia, went to Lebanon to provide their children with more opportunity. Three years later, they changed course once again, boarding a boat and crossing the ocean for the States. Upon their arrival, Judge Altoon's parents, survivors of the Genocide, constantly reinforced to their children the fortune of freedom found in their new land.
"We were always told how lucky we were to be here," she remembers. "In Lebanon, the Arabs were gracious to allow the Armenians to live amongst them, but still, we were always guests in their country. America was a place that not only allowed us the opportunity to be a part of the larger community, but the freedom to succeed through hard work and perseverance."
But freedom of choice in terms of a career, in those times, meant being one of two things: a teacher or a nurse. Judge Altoon set her sights on teaching, receiving her bachelor of arts degree in art and history from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1968, and then her California teaching credential in secondary education from California State University at Northridge in 1971.
By that time already married to her high school sweetheart, Ronald Altoon, an architect whose achievements earned him the honor of serving as President of The American Institute of Architects in 1998, the Judge began to substitute teach while raising her two sons, Eric, now a practicing attorney, and Ryan. Though she ranked fifth in the city on her credential exam, and preferred to work full time, there were fewer than five permanent teaching positions available in the entire Los Angeles Unified School District.
So with the winds of the women's movement blowing full steam, Judge Altoon decided to take the plunge - seeking equal opportunity and equal pay in the legal profession. After nine years away from school, she entered Southwestern University School of Law where she stayed one year before transferring to the University of Southern California School of Law. There she received the American Jurisprudence Award-the highest grade offered in class-in civil procedure and gifts, wills and trusts. She also placed first in the Los Angeles County Bar intellectual property section moot court competition. "The subject matter was exhilarating and the knowledge was empowering," she says. "I really like practical information, and knowing the law gave me more control over my decision making."
But passing with flying colors through law school was not Judge Altoon's greatest test. At age 34, with two kids at home, finding a job was her biggest challenge yet. After several interviews inevitably ending with the question of who was going to care for her children, Judge Altoon began working for the State of California, Attorney General's Office. After three years each in the criminal and civil divisions, she was promoted to Deputy Attorney General.
At that point, George Deukmejian had become Governor of the State of California, and Judge Altoon began to think about other opportunities. Though she loved her job, she wanted to be in a courtroom. Consulting with California Supreme Court Associate Justice, Arman Arabian, Judge Altoon was guided to think about judgeship. "He told me that it was very important that Armenian women become visible in American society and that by my taking such a position I would have the side effect of encouraging others to do the same," she says. "While that is not the only reason, it was a consideration."
She also had to toy with the idea of putting herself and her family under the scrutiny of public life. She knew that an appointment as a judge would make her opinions and thoughts more vulnerable. The stress of the job-to be absolutely just and fair, putting aside her own convictions and applying the law correctly-was a serious consideration.
But seizing the chance to help others, Judge Altoon accepted the appointment to the LA Judicial District. She was sworn in as a Misdemeanor Trial Judge on June 12, 1987. Since she began, she has also served as Supervising Judge for the Central Arraignment Court and Preliminary Hearing Judge at the Criminal Courts Building and Van Nuys Branch Court. In 1990 and 1996, she had to run for re-election. Her position will be up again for vote in 2002.
Aside from her Judgeship, she is currently involved on several committees and is a member of several professional associations. Amongst the committees she has served as chairman are the Drinking Driver Committee and the Legislative Committee, and as a member of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Annual Conference Committee. She is also a member of the California Judges' Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the Los Angeles Municipal Court Judges' Association, the American Bar Association, the California Women Lawyers' Association, and the Armenian Bar Association. Additionally, she has served as seminar leader and faculty member for California Judicial Education and Research Judicial College in Berkeley, California.
Today, with such a demanding career, Judge Altoon says "managing by prioritizing" is key in achieving balance as a career woman, mother and wife. Starting at dawn, she hurries her daughter out the door to school. She herself then rushes to the court, reads the news, and reviews her daily caseloads all before the court doors open at 9:00 a.m. After work, she picks up Emily, helps her with her homework, and starts dinner. She finishes her evening with needlepoint and a good book.
"There is a lot that has to fall by the wayside because of the demands of my career," she explains. "But I try to limit functions that I don't have to attend, so that I can attend things like my children's school activities, or even take a vacation day every now and then. My family definitely comes first. My belief is that one only has their children for a short while and it's important to lay a strong foundation while they are young. As parents, we all only have one chance to do it right."
Looking to the future, Judge Altoon does not dismiss her interest in continuing her career. However, when she retires, she sees herself working part time, either on assignment to the courts or as a private judge arbitrating disputes for lawyers, and painting and weaving on the side. Her immediate plans include writing a book. "Next year I'll do that," she chuckles.
