This Giving Tuesday, help ensure voters have the information they need to make confident, informed decisions. Donate now!

Carol Koppel

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
BP-Initials-UPDATED.png
This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Carol Koppel
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Prior offices:
Superior Court of Los Angeles County

Education
Bachelor's
California State University, Northridge
Law
The University of La Verne, 1974


Carol Koppel was a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California.[1] She was elected to the San Bernardino County Municipal Court in 1980, and she retired in 1987.[2]

Education

Koppel earned an undergraduate degree from California State University at Northridge and began teaching at Van Nuys High School.[3] In 1970, Koppel's mother, who was in her late 60s and working as a purchasing agent for a magnetics company, enrolled in law school at the University of La Verene. Koppel asked if she could join her, not because of an interest in law but because she was "looking for something to do," given that her husband Kenny was working late nights to start a used car lot in North Hollywood.[2]

I didn't even know what a lawyer was. I had no concept. I asked her if I could go with her, and she said, 'No, stay home and take care of those kids. You should be home.' I had to beg her to let me go to law school. … We both worked full time, and we both went to law school at night three nights a week. My dad would finish his plumbing and come over and watch the babies 'til Kenny got home. My husband's parents watched the kids, too, and of course, my husband. The support group was beautiful and perfect.[2][4]
—Judge Carol Koppel

Though Koppel had only planned to take one semester, she said she "just fell in love with the law. It was one of those things that happened probably once in a million people's lifetime."[2]

Koppel graduated from La Verne in 1974 and was admitted to the bar that same year.[2][3]

Career

Prior to Koppel's election to the San Bernardino County Municipal Court in 1980, Koppel worked as an attorney in private practice and a teacher at her alma mater, the University of La Verne. She had previously worked as a Los Angeles County probation counselor, a social case worker and a teacher of math and science.[2]

In the time between her retirement and her participation in the Assigned Judges Program, Koppel worked as an arbitrator in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, also briefly returning to private practice.[2]

See also

External links

Footnotes