Edward Rafeedie, a U.S. District judge known as a tough jurist and a man who devoted his time to attending his grandchildren’s sports games, died at his home March 25 from cancer. He was 79.
Appointed to the federal bench in 1982 by President Ronald Reagan, Rafeedie would go on to hear several prominent cases. Among them were the Sony trademark infringement case involving “James Bond” movies, and his 1990 ruling that the kidnapping of Dr. Humberto Alvarez Machain was illegal. The Mexican Machain had been accused of helping drug traffickers to torture and kill a U.S. drug agent. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration later paid a group of Mexican citizens to kidnap Machain, and bring him to the United States for trial. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overruled Rafeedie’s controversial decision.
Rafeedie served as president of Malibu Little League. He started the Little League Parade, which continued for several years, until recently. He also was a regular at the sporting events of his grandchildren Matthew, 10, Adam, 8, and Daniel, 5. Rafeedie attended their soccer, football, baseball and basketball games.
Daughter-in-law Elizabeth Rafeedie wrote in an e-mail to friends following his death. “He was a wonderful father and a most amazing grandpa. Some of you got to witness how much he loved and enjoyed watching his grandsons play ball. He was their greatest fan, showing up at most of their games and even their practices. Who can forget him pulling a chair out of the trunk of his car, walking to the sports field, wearing one of the many wonderful cowboy hats and sitting down to enjoy his grandsons’ baseball, football, basketball and soccer games? He did so even when cancer was attacking and weakening him.”
Rafeedie was born Jan. 26, 1929 in Orange N.J. as the son of Palestinian immigrants. The family moved to Santa Monica when he was 7.
When he was 12, Rafeedie began working at Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica as a ride operator. He graduated from Venice High School. During World War II, Rafeedie traveled the carnival circuit with an electric horse racing game called The Derby Race. He spent two years in the Army during the Korean War.
After his stint in the military, Rafeedie enrolled at USC, where he received undergraduate and law degrees.
Following law school, Rafeedie entered private practice. He was appointed to a municipal court judgeship in 1969 by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan. Two years later, he joined the Superior Court, where he remained for 11 years before his federal appointment.
Rafeedie also presided over many cases in other states within the 9th Circuit Judicial District. One of his famous cases involved American Indian fishing rights in the Northwest pursuant to a federal treaty dating back to the 1800s. He heard cases in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Guam, Hawaii and other states.
Rafeedie was part of a special presidential delegation to the Balkans that assisted the new republics in establishing and formulating procedures for their emerging legal systems. He also traveled to the Middle East, where he lectured on American jurisprudence.
Following the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, Rafeedie lectured on its many pitfalls. He was particularly critical of Judge Lance Ito’s handling of the matter, and in his lectures he hoped to inspire and assist other judges in “taking control” of their courtrooms and not “allowing lawyers to call the shots.”
Rafeedie told his family his biggest regret was getting cancer and not being able to watch “my grandsons play ball.”
Rafeedie is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ruth; his children, Fred Rafeedie and Jennifer Trunkett and their respective spouses Elizabeth Rafeedie and Jay Trunkett, and his grandchildren, Matthew, Adam, Daniel and Ryan.
A public funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. this week on Thursday at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, located at 725 California Ave. in Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society or the City of Hope.