In Memoriam: Associate Justice Joan K. Irion

Associate Justice Joan K. Irion passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026, after a long illness, surrounded by family. Justice Joan K. Irion was appointed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One, in September 2003, and was unanimously confirmed at a public hearing of the Commission on Judicial Appointments. Before appointment to the Court of Appeal, Justice Irion served as a San Diego County Superior Court Judge.

Justice Irion had recently served on the California Judicial Council and worked tirelessly on projects devoted to the improvement of the courts, better access for self-represented individuals within the California Court system, judicial education and community and youth civics education throughout her career. She was a frequent lecturer at judicial education courses and continuing education classes for the appellate bar. She appeared on several education panels for the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Justice Irion was instrumental in designing and implementing the high school education program for the December 2004 and September 2016 San Diego Special Sessions of the California Supreme Court.

Justice Irion actively participated in the court’s outreach programs including oral arguments held at high schools in San Diego and Imperial Counties as well as Meet & Greet events with law students and grade school students at the court. She had a gift for interacting with people of all walks of life and always made the court a welcome place for students to learn about the law and the judiciary. One example of Justice Irion’s adept interaction with students occurred when an elementary school visited the court many years ago. At the end of the program, Justice Irion opened the floor to questions. One of the students asked how much money Justice Irion made, which was met with the collective gasp of the teacher/parent chaperones. Justice Irion delicately addressed the question without skipping a beat, informing the group of students that their parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles all paid her salary and that her salary was public and available on the internet. She gave the student a homework assignment to look up appellate justice salaries and put everyone in attendance at ease, leaving the students and chaperones with a positive experience.

Justice Irion received her undergraduate degree, with high honors, from the University of California Davis in 1974. Two years later, she earned her master's degree in the field of public administration, with highest honors, from San Diego State University. In 1979, she received her law degree from the University of California Davis, King Hall School of Law. From 1978-1979, she served as Managing Editor of its Law Review.

After law school, Justice Irion entered private practice as a civil litigator, where she remained for more than 20 years until her appointment to the Superior Court of San Diego County. She specialized in representing taxpayers before state taxing agencies and in litigating tax and business matters in the federal and state trial and appellate courts. She was a shareholder in the law firm of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, and its managing shareholder in the San Diego office from 1998 until her judicial appointment.

Throughout her legal career, Justice Irion participated actively in teaching and lecturing at a wide variety of universities, including Stanford Law School, University of California Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California Davis School of Law (King Hall), University of San Diego School of Law, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and University of Southern California.

Prior to her judicial appointments, Justice Irion served as a member of the State Bar Board of Governors, a member of the Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission, President of the California Young Lawyers Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bar Association of San Francisco, a member of the Statewide Commission to Study Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, a delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates and a member of the American Law Institute.

Justice Irion was a member of the San Diego Lawyers Club, California Women Lawyers, American Inns of Court, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute and the UC Davis Law School Alumni Association. She also served as a California State Chair for the American Bar Foundation. Justice Irion was the Court of Appeal liaison for the Civil Appellate Self-Help Workshop, a joint project of the Fourth District Court of Appeal, the San Diego County Bar Association's Appellate Practice Section, the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and the San Diego County Law Library. The monthly Workshop offers legal information, education and assistance to self-represented litigants in civil cases.  

As a member of the National Association of Women Judges, Justice Irion conceptualized, developed and was the first chair of the organization's Informed Voters Fair Judges non-partisan education project designed to increase public awareness about the judicial system, to inform voters that politics and special interests have no place in the courts, and to give voters the tools they need to make sure judges are appointed and elected based on their character and abilities. The Project produced an Emmy-Award Winning Public Service Announcement, "Fair and Free," featuring United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (Retired), which is available on YouTube. Justice Irion accepted the Emmy Award on behalf of the National Association of Women Judges.

Justice Irion was appointed to the Judicial Council on September 15, 2024, and served as chair of the Council’s Rules Committee. 

Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell said of Justice Irion “Joan Irion was an intellectual with a big heart. She cared deeply for those who appeared in court as well as for all of us who had the privilege of working with her on the many difficult cases she handled. She will be remembered for her scholarship as well as her commitment to serving the community.”

Justice Irion ran several half and full marathons, loved to travel, and pamper her dogs and local hummingbirds. She was deeply devoted to the court, thoughtful and contemplative in her work, genuine, and someone with a great sense of humor and who was quick to smile. 

Justice Irion is survived by her husband John Seitman, two married stepsons and a granddaughter, as well as by her sister Mary Irion and brothers Bruce and Brian Irion. Services are pending.