Bob Thomas Hight

BOB T. HIGHT, Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Retired

Judge Bob T. Hight died in his sleep the afternoon of Sunday, September 8, 2024 at the Kensington Redondo Beach, following a brief illness. He would have turned 98this October 27th.He was a 60-year resident of Palos Verdes Estates. He presided in Department D at the Torrance Courthouse for many years before retiring in 2009.

Judge Hight grew up in Long Beach and graduated from Long Beach Wilson High School. His father, Percy Hight was a long-time judge at the Long Beach Courthouse. After a year at the U.S. Naval Academy Judge Hight completed his undergraduate studies at U.C.LA. where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He attended Hastings Law School and completed his legal studies at Southwestern University. Before taking the bench, he was an L.A. City Attorney, then worked for Moss, Lyon & Dunn, leaving there to spend decades at Spray, Gould & Bowers, where he was a partner and served as firm president. He was an early, proud and long-time member of ABOTA - The American Board of Trial Advocates (Diplomate). For many years he had looked forward to the annual ABOTA Mauna Kea trip. Judge Hight was a loyal, enthusiastic fan of U.C.L.A. sports.

Asa judge he presided over some McMartin Pre-School abuse cases, the wrongful death cases following the shootings of two Palos Verdes Estate officers, and a dog-bite case involving President Bill Clinton's brother, Roger.

As a father, a friend, a lawyer, a colleague and a judge he was always very caring, considerate and supportive -a person of great integrity, with a good sense of humor. A youngest child, he remained devoted to the well-being of his older sisters throughout their lives.
The judge was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Jane (Morgan), who passed in 1984 after a long battle with cancer, by his second wife, Regina Greger who passed suddenly in 2016 and, in 2022, by his son, Robert, a senior D.A. in Fresno County, then Orange County, then Los Angeles County. His three other children are Barbara Barrett, of Palos Verdes Estates, Shirley Tschopp of Palm Desert and Tom Hight of Maui. He had eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Three grown step­ children and a number of step-grandchildren were added when he married Regina in 2002.They had been introduced by Judge John Shook and his wife.

There will be a VISITATION on Tuesday, September17, 2024 from 4:30 to 8:30 pm at Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel, 27501South Western Avenue, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. A small family graveside burial is planned.