Lawrence Robert Briscoe

Stockton, CA

March 30, 1951 - January 24, 2007

Lawrence Robert Briscoe passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2007. Larry Briscoe (only his mother called him Lawrence, and only when he was misbehaving) graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1969, a star football player who made all-city and all-league honors his senior year. He studied at Delta College, earning his A.A. degree, and then attended Humphreys Law School at night, sharing a small house with his lifelong friend and law-school classmate George Abdallah, now a Superior Court Judge. He graduated from law school and passed the State Bar examination in 1980, and practiced law in Stockton until his sudden death. Judge Abdallah married Larry and Carol in Larry's longtime Stockton home January 13, 11 days before his death. Larry's great-grandfather Michael Brisco (the spelling of Irish immigrants could be erratic) was a Stockton City Councilman in the early 20th century. John Louis Briscoe, Larry's grandfather, was the first Stockton police officer to be killed in the line of duty, on February 5, 1917. Larry's father, John Lloyd Briscoe, was San Joaquin County Public Defender and one of the first public defenders in the State. Before it was fashionable he advocated for the right of an indigent criminal defendant to have a lawyer, and he traveled the country speaking against the barbarity of the death penalty. John Lloyd Briscoe died October 15, 1965, when Larry was a freshman in high school. Larry followed his father's steps, bristling at injustice wherever he saw it, and passionately representing clients in court. His was not an understated courtroom style. The fire and rage of a Darrow, a Rogers, a Vincent Hallinan, were his. He was generous-"to a fault," Judge Adballah would say. He loved his many friends, his family, and his new wife Carol. But Rachel and Michael, his children, were his consuming love. Parental love is said to be deepest, and it never ran deeper than in Larry. He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Cruz Briscoe of Stockton. Devoted father of Michael Lawrence Briscoe and Rachel Elizabeth Briscoe. Loving son of the late John L. and Doris O. Briscoe. Dear brother of John Briscoe (Carol Sayers) and their children, Katherine and John Paul Briscoe of Novato and Larry's sister, Janet Briscoe (Melissa Blagg) of Stockton.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 5882 N. Ashley Ln., Stockton, CA, Friday, February 2, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. DeYoung Memorial Chapel, 601 N. California St., Stockton, CA in charge of arrangements. There will be no viewing. Private Committal.

Family suggests Memorial contributions in his memory be made to St. Mary's High School, PO Box 7247, Stockton, CA 95267-0247.