Passing of Former Magistrate Judge John C. Rayburn, Jr.

The United States District Court, Central District of California, mourns the loss of former magistrate judge John C. Rayburn, Jr., who passed away on Monday, May 14, 2012, at the age of 52.  He was appointed as a United States magistrate judge for the Central District of California on October 13, 2006, and sat in the Court’s Eastern Division in Riverside until his resignation in July 2008. 

From October 1991 to his appointment as a magistrate judge, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.  During this time, he served in all three offices – Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Riverside – including as a Deputy Chief in the Santa Ana branch office and as Chief of the Riverside branch office.  After leaving the bench, he returned to the United States Attorney’s Office and retired in 2009.

Rayburn received his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1982; his M.B.A. degree from San Diego State University in 1987; and his J.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1990.  After graduating from law school, he clerked for the Honorable Gary L. Taylor of the United States District Court, Central District of California, in the Court’s Southern Division in Santa Ana.

The Honorable Suzanne H. Segal, Chief Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court, Central District of California, said, “John Rayburn was, as both a prosecutor and judge, deeply committed to the cause of justice.  Mixed with this commitment was a compassionate and forgiving heart, as demonstrated by John's long service to a prison ministry program.  John was admired and loved for many reasons, but particularly his extraordinarily decent and kind spirit.  We will truly miss him."

He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Jennifer Phillips; sons, John and Joseph; and a large extended family. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Dorothy Catholic Church at 241 South Valley Center Avenue in Glendora.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Orange County chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association located at 17771 Cowan, Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92614.

Terry Nafisi
District Court Executive