California Justice Joan K. Irion, Long-Serving Court of Appeal Judge, Passes Away

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, the California judiciary mourned the passing of Associate Justice Joan K. Irion, a jurist whose career spanned more than four decades. The 72‑year‑old died after a long illness, surrounded by her husband, John Seitman, two stepsons, a granddaughter, and her siblings.

Irion was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, in September 2003, after a unanimous confirmation at a public hearing of the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Prior to her appellate appointment, she served as a San Diego County Superior Court judge.

During her tenure on the appellate bench, she served on the California Judicial Council and chaired its Rules Committee from September 15, 2024. She also led initiatives to improve court access for self‑represented litigants, enhance judicial education, and expand civics outreach to students.

Irion was a frequent lecturer at judicial education courses and continuing‑education classes for the appellate bar, and she appeared on panels for the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She helped design the high‑school education program for the December 2004 and September 2016 San Diego Special Sessions of the California Supreme Court, and she hosted oral‑argument sessions in high schools across San Diego and Imperial counties. In one noted incident, a young student asked how much a judge earned; Irion calmly explained that salaries are public and directed the class to look up the figures, turning a potentially awkward moment into a learning opportunity.

Her legal career began after earning a bachelor’s degree with high honors from the University of California, Davis, in 1974, a master’s in public administration from San Diego State University in 1976, and a J.D. from UC Davis King Hall School of Law in 1979, where she served as Managing Editor of the law review during 1978‑79. She spent more than two decades as a civil litigator, specializing in tax and business matters before state and federal courts, and she was a shareholder in Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, serving as managing shareholder of the San Diego office from 1998 until her judicial appointment.

Irion also taught at Stanford Law School, UC Berkeley Boalt Hall, UC Davis King Hall, the University of San Diego School of Law, Vanderbilt, Georgetown, and the University of Southern California. She held leadership roles in professional associations, including membership on the State Bar Board of Governors, the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission, presidency of the California Young Lawyers Association, directorship of the Bar Association of San Francisco, and participation on the Statewide Commission to Study Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. She served as a delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates and as a member of the American Law Institute.

She was a founding chair of the National Association of Women Judges’ Informed Voters Fair Judges project, which produced the Emmy‑winning public‑service announcement “Fair and Free” featuring former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

The California Judicial Council’s Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell said, “Joan Irion was an intellectual with a big heart. She cared deeply for those who appeared in court as well as for all of us who had the privilege of working with her on the many difficult cases she handled. She will be remembered for her scholarship as well as her commitment to serving the community.”

Outside the courtroom, Irion ran several half and full marathons, enjoyed travel, and cared for her dogs and local hummingbirds. She was known for her thoughtful, contemplative work style and her quick smile.

Services for Justice Irion are pending.