Torrance supervising judge takes oath as major in US Army Reserve

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Alan B. Honeycutt added a new title to his resume on Tuesday -- Major in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Honeycutt, who serves as the supervising judge at the Torrance courthouse, was sworn in by retired U.S. Air Force colonel and current U.S. Congressman Ted W. Lieu, D-Los Angeles County. He emphasized how supportive Los Angeles County Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner and Assistant Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia have been of his military commitment.

"I've always felt the importance of serving. Every professional job I've had has been in public service from being a city attorney, a government lawyer, a reserve police officer, law professor and a judge." Honeycutt said. "I can't think of any greater honor than serving in the Army, serving the United States, and carrying out its foreign policy."

Honeycutt's military service began five years ago in the California State Guard, where he deliberately chose to start as an enlisted member to gain ground-level experience. He was assigned to the Individual Weapons Qualifications Task Force, training California National Guard troops in small arms techniques.

As a major in the Army Reserve, Honeycutt will serve as a military government specialist in the 351st Civil Affairs Command. His responsibilities will include advising on judicial processes for friendly nations in the Indo-Pacific region and developing alternative dispute resolution programs.

"Cultural awareness is a key component of any military-civil solution," Honeycutt noted, citing his Korean American heritage, experience living in the Middle East, and his Mexican American family.

His professional journey has been marked by a diverse range of experiences that have shaped him into the jurist he is today. After graduating from California Western School of Law, he worked as an associate at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP before taking on a series of roles in public service.

He joined the Redondo Beach City Attorney's office as a deputy city attorney in 1995 where he would eventually become an assistant city prosecutor and then a city prosecutor. In 1999, he went to work as a Hermosa Beach reserve police officer, rising to rank of lieutenant before leaving the force in 2004. In 2006, he was appointed to the bench by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Honeycutt expressed enthusiasm for his new role, stating, "I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with our partner nations in the Indo-Pacific on developing their justice systems and improving their judicial administrations."

The judge acknowledged the potential risks associated with military service but emphasized his readiness to serve if called upon.

"I think that all of us who step forward to take that oath know that there are always the risks and concerns that come with the territory," he said. "I don't know as to whether we're in any greater period of risk at this point but I'm certainly aware of what is happening in the world today and I'm prepared, if called upon, to go where I'm assigned and do what I need to do to contribute."