Disorder in the court

The colorful life of California Supreme Court Chief Justice David S. Terry formed the backdrop for a dramatic educational program at the State Bar Annual Meeting in San Diego last month. Present-day California Supreme Court justices and a federal judge donned costumes to tell the story of Terry’s rise to the high court, his run-ins with the San Francisco Vigilance Committee and his death at the hands of a federal marshal. The script was narrated by Richard H. Rahm, who wrote the script for the California Supreme Court Historical Society, and State Bar CEO Joseph Dunn. (Event photos by S. Todd Rogers. Historical material provided by the California Supreme Court Historical Society.)

Justice David S. Terry, who served on the California Supreme Court from 1855 to 1859.
A drawing of Justice David S. Terry stabbing Vigilance Committee Sergeant-of-Arms Sterling Hopkins. The committee “arrested” Terry but released him two weeks later.
California Supreme Court Justice Marvin R. Baxter, holding knife, took a lead role portraying Justice David S. Terry. Also in the photo are U.S. District Judge Larry A. Burns and Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.
Sen. David C. Broderick, who dueled with Justice David S. Terry and lost in 1859.
A depiction of the infamous duel between Sen. David C. Broderick and Justice David S. Terry.
Sarah Althea Hill, who was a client of Justice David S. Terry and later became his wife.
About 750 attended the dramatization on Sept. 12 at the Grand Hyatt San Diego.
Justice Ming Chin (gesturing) as Sen. David C. Broderick, who was killed in a duel with Justice David S. Terry. Also in the photo are narrator and State Bar CEO Joseph Dunn and Justice Carol A. Corrigan.
Justice Carol A. Corrigan, portraying a reporter, questions Justice Goodwin Liu’s character. Also in the photo is Justice Ming Chin.
Marvin R. Baxter as Justice David S. Terry, with Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye portraying Terry’s client-turned-wife Sarah Althea Hill.
U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns gets in character.
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye acts out as Sarah Althea Hill.
Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye also portrayed two U.S. Supreme Court justices in the dramatization.
Justice Carol A. Corrigan, in character as Deputy U.S. Marshal David Neagle, recounts the shooting of Justice David S. Terry in defense of a U.S. Supreme Court justice.