Judge J.R. Hoffman to retire in 2019

Judge J-R.

Hoffman will retire in 2020 after 25 years on the California Supreme Court, his attorney said Monday.

A statement from Hoffman’s office did not say what was in store for him, but his retirement will come as a shock to the state’s legal community.

“The timing of Judge Hoffman retiring is unfortunate for the legal profession in California, but a welcome step forward in a long career of justice,” said attorney Tom Loeffler, who has represented the state bar.

Hoffman served as a judge on the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the San Bernardino County Superior District Court, and was an appellate judge in the state Supreme Court from 1997 to 2004.

Hofferman, whose son was a Los Angeles police officer, retired from the state supreme court in 2017.

The Los Angeles Times reported that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemo treatments.

Hofman, 64, is married to U.S. District Judge Patricia Garza, who is from Los Angeles, and they have two children.