Distinguished Lawyer Memorial Honoree

Hon. Rudi Brewster

The Hon. Rudi M. Brewster was appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Regan and sworn in on June 29 1984, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. He assumed senior status on July 1, 1998.

Judge Brewster was a diligent professional known for being compassionate, caring, dedicated to his country, family, community and court.

Before going on the bench, Judge Brewster began his law career at Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye in 1960 where he became partner in 1968. He concentrated his practice on insurance defense work for aircraft manufacturers, including Boeing, Cessna Aircraft Co. and Beech Aircraft Corp.

Born in Sioux Falls, S.D., he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Prior to enrolling in Stanford Law School, Judge Brewster served as a Navy pilot stationed in San Diego and remained in the Naval Reserve in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps after retiring from active service.

Jude Brewster was a musician playing clarinet as a partner in Judicial Harmony with Judge Marilyn Huff who played piano. Their primary audience was at the Veterans’ Association where they would perform every other month.

Committed to his community, Judge Brewster served on numerous boards of directors including the San Diego County Bar Association, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and the San Diego Rotary. He read to students at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, presented the mock trial video for the Children at Risk Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association and counseled up-and-coming jurists.