Joseph James Carson
Judge Joseph J. Carson passed away November 21, 2022 at the age of 82, joining his parents Robert James and Leona Blodgett Carson, his brother, a Vietnam veteran, John Carson and many close friends in heaven.
Joe was born in the City of Oakland, raised, and resided in San Leandro most of his life. At the age of six his father passed away. Joe received a BA in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1962 and graduated Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 1965. Joe met the love of his life, Antoinette Marie Stallone, while at USF and later married on January 19, 1963.
Joe dedicated his life to public service and had an unprecedented love for the judicial system and his cases while serving at the Hayward Hall of Justice Courthouse and Rene C. Davidson Alameda County Courthouse in Oakland. At the start of his career, Joe was a Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County between 1966 and 1972 where he was assigned as a felony trial deputy. He was appointed Judge to the former Municipal Court, San Leandro-Hayward Judicial District, Alameda County, by Governor Ronald Reagan in June 1972. In 1984, Judge Carson was appointed to the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, by Governor George Deukmejian. During his judicial career he was elected to the office of Presiding Judge in both courts.
Joe was named Judge of the Year in 1990 by the Alameda-Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge of the Year in 1986 by the Southern Alameda County Bar Association. He was awarded the Above and Beyond Award in 1993 by the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge of the year in 1994 by the Alameda County Lawyers Club. He was on the faculty at the California Judicial College (CJER), in Berkeley, in 1982 and 1978. He was an instructor in Criminal Law at Chabot College in Hayward from 1970-71.
Outside of work, Joe would be caught listening to ball games and political discussions on his pocket radio while gardening, woodworking, fishing, photography, framing waterfowl artwork and fine gourmet cooking. He loved spending time with his family in Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors.
Joe is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years married Antionette Marie Carson, his sister Roberta Carson (SNJM), sons Joe (and wife Ada Woo) and Jeff (and wife Anabela Henriques), grandchildren Luke, Mick, and Paul, and sister-in-law Christine Carson and many nephews and nieces.
Funeral Services
Funeral services will be on Friday, December 23, 2022, at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Road, Hayward CA 94542. Burial will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club or other charities.