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A true "Angeleno," Judge Wm. Matthew Byrne,
Jr., was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended Loyola High School and the University
of Southern California, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree and
later, a Doctor of Law degree. His long and distinguished
career of service includes military duty in the United States Air Force; partnership
in the law firm of Dryden, Harrington, Horgan & Swartz;
tenure as United States Attorney in Los Angeles heading the second
largest federal prosecution office in the country; and eventually U.S. District
Court Judgeship. He became the youngest judge ever appointed to
the federal bench, when he was confirmed in 1971
at the age of 40. A member of a prominent legal family, he
served from 1994 to 1998 as the Central District's Chief Judge, a
post once held by his father, William M. Byrne.
Following his tenure as Chief, he became a Senior Judge and
continued to serve the Court by carrying a docket of civil and
criminal cases. He was honored for his 30 years of service to
the United States District Court and his lifetime of public service
to the Los Angeles community.
In addition to this full and distinguished
career, Judge Bryne served on the boards of numerous civic
and cultural organizations including Pomona College, Loyola Marymount University, Performing
Arts Council of the Music Center, Norton
Simon Museum, Los Angeles Natural History Museum, and Los Angeles Zoo
Association. He passed away on January 12, 2006. |
