David Sills (judge)
{{short description|American jurist}}
{{about|the appellate judge and politician|the gridiron football player|David Sills (American football)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Sills
| office1 = Presiding Justice for the Fourth District, Division 3 of the California Court of Appeals
| appointer1 = George Deukmejian
| term_start1 = August 28, 1990
| term_end1 = June 1, 2011
| office2 = Judge of the Orange County Superior Court
| appointer2 = George Deukmejian
| term_start2 = 1985
| term_end2 = 1990
| office3 = Mayor of Irvine, California
| successor3 = C. David Baker
| term_start3 = 1981
| term_end3 = July 9, 1985
| office4 = Member of the Irvine City Council
| term_start4 = 1976
| term_end4 = 1985
| birth_name = David George Sills
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|03|21}}
| birth_place = Peoria, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|08|23|1938|03|21}}
| death_place = Irvine, California, U.S.
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| alma_mater = Bradley University, University of Illinois
| occupation = Lawyer, judge, politician
| spouse = {{marriage|Maureen Reagan|1964|1968|end=div.}}
| children =
| relatives = Ronald Reagan (ex-father-in-law)
| branch = {{Marines|United States}}
|serviceyears = 1960–1965
|rank = Captain
}}
David George Sills (March 21, 1938 – August 23, 2011) was an American jurist. Sills served as the presiding justice for the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District, Division Three.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Greg |date=November 1998 |title=David Sills |url=https://www.law.com/regionals/ca/judges/4district/sills.htm |access-date=2013-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619214233/https://www.law.com/regionals/ca/judges/4district/sills.htm |archive-date=19 June 2009 |url-status=dead}} He was a former mayor of Irvine, California, the largest planned city in the United States.
Background
Sills received a B.S. from Bradley University in 1959 and his legal degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1961.{{Cite web |title=David G. Sills, Presiding Justice, Fourth Appellate District |url= http://vote98.sos.ca.gov/Judges98/David%20Sills.html |access-date=2013-12-08 |website=Vote98 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108194739/http://vote98.sos.ca.gov/Judges98/David%20Sills.html |archive-date=8 January 2010 |url-status=dead}}
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps between 1960 and 1965, reaching the rank of captain. He had a private law practice in Orange County, California between 1965 and 1985.
Sills was a member of the Republican State Central Committee of California from 1966 to 1968 and Chairman of the Republican Associates of Orange County from 1968 to 1969.{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=David George Sills |url=http://www.courts.ca.gov/3808.htm |access-date=2013-12-08 |website=California Courts}}
He was an elected member of the Irvine City Council between 1976 and 1985, serving as mayor for four years during that period. During his tenure he worked with the Council to responsibly manage the rapid growth Irvine was experiencing at the time.
Sills was appointed as a judge to California's Superior Court in 1985 by Governor George Deukmejian and served there until being elevated to be the Presiding Justice at the Court of Appeal by Governor Deukmejian in 1990. He authored approximately 2,400 legal opinions.
He was also the Irvine Health Foundation's founding Chairman and remained for 26 years. During his service over $25 Million was granted to philanthropic organizations in Orange County to improve health issues for those in need.
Personal life
From 1964 to 1968, Sills was married to Maureen Reagan, the daughter of U.S. President Ronald Reagan.{{Cite news |last=Nemy |first=Enid |date=2001-08-09 |title=Maureen Reagan, 60, Activist and President's Daughter |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/09/us/maureen-reagan-60-activist-and-president-s-daughter.html?pagewanted=all}}
Prior to developing knee problems, Sills was a marathon runner who often competed in the Boston Marathon. He enjoyed wood working and had a full range of tools and machines in his garage, fondly known as the "Sills Cabinet Shop." Sills had an extensive library at his Irvine home and studied history and politics.
References
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Category:People from Peoria, Illinois
Category:Military personnel from Illinois
Category:California Republicans
Category:Bradley University alumni
Category:University of Illinois College of Law alumni
Category:Judges of the California Courts of Appeal
Category:Mayors of Irvine, California