Honorees

Peter Jay Hughes

1928-2014

Peter Hughes was born in Los Angeles, California where he received his primary and high school (Loyola High) education. He then went to Stanford where he received his B.A. (1951) and J.D. (1953).

After graduating from Stanford Law School, Hughes served in the U.S. Army as a member of the JAG Corps at the Pentagon. As a First Lieutenant, Peter appeared before the Board of Review and the Court of Military Appeals. He represented the Army in cases ranging from violent offenses to contempt.

In 1957, Peter joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. This was a decade before the Southern District of California was established in San Diego. Soon, he was assigned as one of two Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the second floor of the federal courthouse at 325 West F Street in San Diego. At that time, and for years to come, his mentor was the Honorable James M. Carter, a prominent San Diego jurist. In response to tremendous population growth in San Diego after World War II, Carter convinced the Judicial Conference of the United States to support the creation of the Southern District in 1966.

In 1959, Peter left his career as a prosecutor behind to establish the formidable law firm of Sheela, Lightner, Hughes & Castro, where he practiced until 1977. That year, he joined Sullivan, Jones & Archer and was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers.

In 1979, Peter went into solo practice where he remained until his death. There, he earned the unofficial title of “Dean” of the defense bar. He earned that title by being a superb advocate and an extremely effective lawyer, but he also demonstrated that one did not have to be contentious when dealing with opposing counsel. He was a man of great integrity, dignity, and honesty. His word was gold.

He was an active volunteer in many professional endeavors and assumed a leadership role in most. These include membership in the San Diego County Bar Association since 1958, serving on its Board of Directors from 1968 to1971; President of ABOTA in 1967 and member of its National Executive Committee for three years; service on the Judicial Council of the State of California from 1981to 1983; and a member of the Board of Directors of Criminal Defense Bar Association. He was elected to the State Bar Board of Governors in 1976.

The recognitions given to Peter throughout his life represent his many contributions to the court and his exemplary character. He earned the Daniel T. Broderick III Award, Thomas More Society Lifetime Achievement Award, and E. Stanley Conant Award. He was named to two Halls of Fame, first by the Consumer Attorney Trial Lawyers and then by the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. In the year of his death, 2014, he received the prestigious Ninth Circuit John Frank Award. The award honors a lawyer who has “demonstrated outstanding character and integrity; dedication to the rule of law; proficiency as a trial and appellate lawyer; success in promoting collegiality among members of the bench and bar; and a lifetime of service to the federal courts of the Ninth Circuit.” In 2016, San Diego’s ABOTA chapter established the Peter Hughes/George McClenahan Civility Award. Among other criteria, the award recognizes those attorneys who work cooperatively with adversaries, are strong advocates of the jury trial, and display proper respect for the process of law.

Peter was eminently kind and a true gentleman. He was a valued mentor to many and a trusted colleague to countless others. In addition to his law career, he was active in his church. He and his wife, Doris, were founding parishioners of All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla. They were avid supporters of the University of San Diego for more than 40 years. He was Trustee Emeritus at USD, sitting on the Board of Trustees from 1973 to 2009 and Chair from 1996 to 1999. In addition to all this, Peter was devoted to his family, three daughters, a son, and nine grandchildren.

He did all this with great enthusiasm and a smile on his face. He lived a life in full. As a child, he surfed, boxed, and raced cars; the latter a sport he enjoyed through adulthood. He was a shining example of what a human being should be. Peter was dedicated and empathetic to those in need — whether it be a client, a young attorney seeking advice, a child, or someone who just walked into the office. If you needed help, he was there to give it.

As Emerson wrote: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Many have breathed easier because of Peter Hughes. He was a towering success by every measure.

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