Judge McLaughlin Dies of Car Crash Injuries

SANTA ANA —  Linda H. McLaughlin, a U.S. District judge who presided over some of the most high-profile cases in recent Orange County history, died Sunday of injuries sustained in a Jan. 8 car accident. She was 57.

McLaughlin had been at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana since the accident, when her car struck a pole and overturned as she was driving home from the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Santa Ana. Just a week earlier, she had presided over the first hearing in the new building.

“She will be sorely missed,” Terry J. Hatter Jr., chief judge of the Central District, said of McLaughlin, who had served that court since 1992. “She was one of the hardest-working individuals you could find. She had a marvelous work ethic and a reputation of being very fair.”

Among McLaughlin’s well-known rulings was a 1990 decision that brought about major reforms in how youthful offenders were treated at Orange County Juvenile Hall. She also issued the rulings in 1993 and 1994 that allowed for the eventual construction of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor.

In 1995, she handled most of the class action lawsuits arising from the Orange County bankruptcy.

Through her 19 years on the bench, colleagues said, McLaughlin remained highly approachable.

“She was noted for regularly visiting the clerk’s office and participating in baby showers and potlucks,” said Janine Duffy, the deputy clerk in charge of the court’s Orange County division. “She was down to earth and very friendly. She had a great sense of humor but could be all business when it was necessary.”

Two years ago, McLaughlin was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that eventually led to a six-month leave of absence for treatment.

“She was a study in courage as she struggled to maintain this full caseload after coming back from treatment,” said Dean Steward, head of the federal public defender’s office. “She didn’t seem well, yet she just kept powering through--she was an inspiration to everybody.”

McLaughlin, who lived in Tustin, is survived by her husband, Hugh; and five children: Margaret, Robert, Mark, Michael and Bryant.

Funeral arrangements are pending.