Official biography from the CA Courts of Appeal website:
Justice Carol D. Codrington was nominated in 2010, unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments and confirmed by the electorate. Justice Codrington is the first African American to serve in the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Prior thereto, Justice Codrington was appointed to the Riverside Superior Court in 2007. As a trial judge, she presided over various civil and criminal assignments. Prior to her elevation to the bench, she practiced complex civil litigation in state and federal court. Justice Codrington was an associate at Burke, Robinson & Pearman, an associate then partner of Mallory and Brown-Curtis, Director of Litigation at the Western Law Center for Disability Rights (now Disability Rights Legal Center), and an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School. She was also a Deputy City Attorney with the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney and an Associate General Counsel with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Prior to being elected Commissioner of the Superior Court by the Judges of Riverside County in 2006, she was in private practice.
Justice Codrington was active in many bar associations. She is a Past-President and a life member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. She also became a life member of the California Association of Black Lawyers and the John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles. Justice Codrington is an ex officio member of the Riverside County Bar Association, San Bernardino County Bar Association, and the Richard T. Fields Bar Association. Justice Codrington has served as Judicial Master and President of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court. She is a member of the California Judges Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the International Association of Women Judges, among other various organizations. Justice Codrington serves on several statewide and local advisory committees and boards. She completed the prestigious Sir Richard May Seminar on International Law and International Courts, in The Hague, Netherlands.
Justice Codrington has received numerous commendations and resolutions for her commitment to public service from the California State Senate, California Legislature Assembly, Secretary of State, California State Controller, State Board of Equalization, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, City of Inglewood, County of Riverside, the Mayor of Riverside, Riverside City Council, San Bernardino Board of Supervisors, City of Upland, and the City of Fontana. Justice Codrington has received professional awards, including the Employment Round Table of Southern California Leadership Award; the William L. Strickland Excellence Award from Loyola Marymount University’s African American Alumni Association; the Professional Excellence Award 100 Black Men; Judicial Officer of the Year from the Southwest Riverside County Bar Association; the Bernard S. Jefferson, Jurist of the Year Award-John M. Langston Bar Association; Judge Elwood Rich Outstanding Jurist Award; Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court, Leadership in Jurisprudence Award, 16th Annual Celebration of Excellence and Jurist of the Year Award; Richard T. Fields Bar Association Judicial Officer of the Year; Champions of Justice Award from the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County Inc.; among other awards. Justice Codrington enjoys mentoring elementary, high school, college, and law students. She is a frequent lecturer, panel member, and keynote speaker. Justice Codrington was named one of 50 Inspirational Alumni of Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.
Born in Los Angeles, Justice Codrington is of Belizean descent. Justice Codrington is married, has one son, four stepchildren, and several grandchildren. She is the first in her family to earn a law degree. Justice Codrington earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Cum Laude, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.
