Long Time Del Norte Judge Dies

Former California state senator and Del Norte County Superior Court Judge Frank Petersen died May 23, 2011, in Fort Bragg from complications of a stroke. Petersen represented the 4th Senate District from 1962 to 1966 as a Democrat before being appointed by Gov. Edmund G. Brown as a judge for Del Norte.

Frank was born June 20, 1922, in a logging camp at the head waters of Alder Creek, Elk, Mendocino County, California. He attended Fort Bragg Elementary, Junior High, and High School, graduating in 1940. 

He served in the South Pacific for three years during World War II with the U.S. Navy Seabees. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, Frank returned to Fort Bragg and worked in the woods on the Crispin Ranch.

In the early 1950s, Frank practiced law, became the deputy district attorney and eventually the district attorney of Mendocino County.  In 1962, he was elected as state senator of the 4th District, which then included Lake and Mendocino counties, leaving office in 1966 when California’s Senate districts were redrawn.

Initially residents believed, that as a former Mendocino resident, he should have not been appointed to a judgeship in Del Norte county. Frank held the position for 22-years and went unopposed in every election following his appointment.

Twice I had to come before Judge Petersen for having done something wrong.  The first time in 1981, after throwing away $1200 from a restaurant I was working at as a bus-boy and dishwasher, the second in 1982 following the time Adam was knifed during a street brawl.

I can honestly say — Frank was fair in both situations and I always appreciated that.

Frank retired from Del Norte County’s Superior Court in 1988 and went into private practice in Crescent City. He also presided in courts all over Northern California as part of the Assigned Judges Program until 2009. 

He is survived by his wife, Marianne Petersen; children Gregory Petersen, Christine Petersen-Nave, Marcia Sanderson, Wanda Petersen-Alfven, Sandy Petersen-Miller, and Mary Petersen-Pool; brothers Kenneth Petersen, Robert Petersen, Allen Petersen and Richard Petersen; twenty grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Frank was 88.