Pregerson memorial scheduled for Friday

A public memorial service for Judge Harry Pregerson will be held Friday at the Shrine Auditorium at the University of Southern California.

The event will begin at 1 PM. Doors open at noon.

Pregerson, who sat on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for nearly four decades, died Saturday at his Woodland Hills home, surrounded by his family.

"Judge Pregerson was a valued colleague and good friend who will be greatly missed by all of us," the 9th Circuit's chief judge, Sidney R. Thomas, said in a statement. "His efforts on behalf of those in need were remarkable and inspiring."

Pregerson was a champion of the impoverished and disadvantaged, both on and off the bench.

Many of his colleagues noted this in their remembrances of him.

"Harry believed that law was a vehicle by which to provide justice; that law was the means, justice the end," said Circuit Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt.

Much of Pregerson's time off the bench was spent serving Los Angeles' homeless population.

To remember Pregerson's work, the family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Pregerson's honor to GrowGood, a nonprofit that works with the Salvation Army to grow food for the Bell Shelter, which Pregerson helped found in 1988.

Donations can be made at www.grow-good.org/donate/.

Pregerson's family has invited those who knew the judge to share stories about him. "Harryisms," as the family called them, can be shared through several resources, including a website journal, by phone, or by email:

http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/HarryPregerson/Homepage.aspx

(310) 421-0159

harry@edataservices.com

The Shrine Auditorium is at 665 W. Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007.