San Francisco

Gov. Elect Gavin Newsom's Father, a Former Judge, Dies at 84

William Newsom was appointed to the bench in 1975 by Gov. Jerry Brown

William Newsom III, a former California judge and the father of governor-elect Gavin Newsom, has died at age 84.

A Gavin Newsom spokesman says William Newsom died Wednesday morning at his home in San Francisco.

The statement says the elder Newsom was a "proud, lifelong Californian" and "a powerful voice for individual rights and environmental protections."

William Newsom was appointed to the Placer County Superior Court by Gov. Jerry Brown in 1975 during Brown's first stint in office. He later served on the state Court of Appeals.

William Newsom was a close friend of oil magnate Gordon Getty and helped manage his finances. He was heavily involved with environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club Foundation.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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