Judge Elizabeth Ann Riggs

Elizabeth Ann Riggs was born to John A. and Jerrothia Riggs of Camden, NJ on January 2, 1942.  She was the 4th out of seven children. 

Liz, as she was known by friends, family, and cohorts, came to San Diego in 1974 after a short stint in Bakersfield after completing Law School at Rutgers University. 

Upon her graduation from Rutgers University in 1973, Judge Riggs first moved to Bakersfield, CA where she worked for the California Rural Legal Aid Society.  With a landmark Federal Consent Decree, she began her legal career in San Diego in 1974 starting as a Deputy District Attorney.  Next she had a stint as a State Deputy Attorney General.  Governor Jerry Brown appointed her Municipal Court Judge in 1979.  She became the first black female judge in San Diego County.  For nearly 22 years, Judge Riggs remained the only black woman Judge sitting in San Diego County. 

Judge Riggs was a lifelong Democrat, a pioneer throughout her career, and a strong supporter for civil rights, women’s rights, and a community activist.  She was a co-founder of the Association of Black Attorneys, alongside one of her mentors the late US District Federal Court Judge Napoleon Jones.  The Association was later renamed the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, after another one of her mentors, the late Judge Earl B. Gilliam, a noteworthy pioneer in the San Diego legal community, and the first Black US District Federal Court Judge responsible for the San Diego area. Judge Riggs served as a Board member on a number of community non-profits.

In 2002, she officially retired from the Bench as a Superior Court Judge.  The San Diego City Council officially proclaimed February 2, 2002, “Judge Elizabeth A. Riggs Day”.  Although retired, she remained active in the legal community in San Diego, including Substitute Judge Assignments throughout Southern California.

Besides the law and public life, she was devoted to family above all, but also to education, reading, theatre, and concert music.  Her love of travel literally spanned the Globe.  But her passion was the spelling board game, Scrabble.  She was an energetic player.  If you needed to assemble a word, for the most points, she could do it with ease.

Judge Riggs is survived by her sons, Luther, Michael, and Adam (Ashley); Brothers John, Richard (Cynthia), Herbert (Julia) and Sister Barbara; her beloved grandchildren, Jordan, John, and Jasmine, and their mother LaVonne Pruitt Riggs; and “sistah friend” Joyce Massola.  She leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She is predeceased by sisters Annetta Braxton, and Dianne Wilson; sister-in-law Charlotte Danielle Riggs, and niece Lovell Riggs.

In closing, she wishes us to remember the following Dakota Indian Proverb, which stood by her through thick and thin: 

“We will be known forever by the tracks we leave”. 

***IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO ONE OF THE CHARITIES/SCHOALRSHIPS LISTED IN THE NAME of Judge Elizabeth A. Riggs****