Edward Leslie (Ted) Merrill
January 11, 1926 - August 14, 2016
Edward Leslie (Ted) Merrill passed away on August 14, 2016, in Rancho Mirage, California at the age of 90. Ted is survived by his brother, Richard (Dick), his two sons and their wives, Charles and Linda Merrill and Casey and Nilda Merrill, and six grandchildren, Heather, Richard Casey (Casey), Charles Zachary (Zach), Gabriella (Ella), Samantha and Alexandrea Jane (A.J.). He is predeceased by his first wife, Betty Jean Merrill, née Morton.
Ted was born in San Francisco, California on January 11, 1926, to Inez and Elmer Merrill. He was raised in the states of Washington, Oregon and California. He attended Oakland High School and was an accomplished track and football star. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and then attended the University of California at Berkeley where he played varsity football and rugby. Thereafter, he matriculated at Boalt Hall Law School in Berkeley, obtaining his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1951.
After passing the bar examination, Ted worked for the State Bar of California. Soon thereafter, he became a Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County. He entered private practice five years later. Establishing a practice in Danville, California, Ted became a well-known criminal defense attorney although he also participated in the civil arena. He is perhaps best known for his work in the Marcus Foster-SLA murder trial and the Chowchilla kidnapping. In 1978, he was appointed to the Superior Court bench in Contra Costa County and ultimately served as the presiding judge of Contra Costa County.
After retirement, Ted moved to the Palm Springs area. He enjoyed golf, was an avid walker and gardener and enjoyed 20th Century literature. Ted also enjoyed attending the numerous athletic events of his grandchildren. He is well remembered for supporting and assisting his sons and grandchildren in pursuit of their goals.
A celebration of life will be scheduled in Northern California at a date selected in the immediate future.
