Robert H. Lynn Interview

Description: After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, Lynn won his juris doctorate from California Western School of Law. During his long legal career he’s served on the board of directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego County (a former president), the Greater San Diego Business Association, Gays and Lesbians for Programming Excellence KPBS Affinity Group, The San Diego LGBT Community Center (in the early years) and the California Human Rights Advocates. He also was a founder of the San Diego Democratic Club and has worked with the San Diego County Health Services Advisory Board, the California Democratic Council, the San Diego Coalition for Human Rights and the Lawyer’s Club of San Diego. Lynn currently sits on the Conference of Delegates of the State Bar Association and is an active member of the Tom Homann Law Association. One of Lynn’s more-notable legal battles was Lawson vs Kolender, a landmark 1983 case that ended in the U.S. Supreme Court striking down California’s 111-year-old vagrancy law. Lynn filed suit on behalf of Edward Lawson, a tall, lanky African-American with impressive dreadlocks, who had been stopped 15 times by San Diego police when he went walking in the city’s so-called “white neighborhoods” and refused to produce identification. The court deemed the law unconstitutional, ruling that any American can walk anywhere, at any time, and not have to identify himself to police without cause. Lynn also is a published journalist, having penned biweekly columns on politics and other non-legal matters for the Pacific Coast Times from 1974 to 1978. He currently heads his own law firm, focusing on appellate and trial litigation, and business and real estate law. And one more significant affiliation for the man who circled the globe: He and partner Howe are members of The Seven Seas Cruising Association.

Date: 2015-03-31