Bradley V. Sargent Jr.

Bradley V. Sargent Jr. (July 5, 1863 – January 8, 1940) was an American lawyer and politician who was the district attorney of Monterey County and a judge of the Monterey County Superior Court. In 1906 he established the juvenile court as a branch of the Superior Court for Monterey County.

Early life and education Sargent was born on July 5, 1863, on the Rancho Potrero de San Carlos in Carmel Valley, California. He spent his formative years on the ranch, comprising owned by his father, Senator Bradley Varnum Sargent. His mother, Julia Flynn, was from Boston. Sargent received his early education in the public schools of Monterey County and in 1891 attended Santa Clara College, graduating in 1884 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree, and subsequently earning a Master of Science (M.S.) degree. In 1885, he went east and enrolled in the law department at Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, where he graduated in 1887 with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. The couple had three children. Sargent served as the grand vice chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Native Sons of the Golden West, Fraternal Brotherhood, and other organizations.

In 1896, while Sargent was district attorney, he built a Colonial Revival architecture-style house, now known as the B. V. Sargent House in Salinas and was listed on National Register of Historic Places on October 20, 1980.

On September 6, 1902, the Democratic Party convention nominated Sargent for judge of the superior court. He was elected by a majority of 147 votes, defeating Judge Dorn, a popular official with twelve years of service. Some of his decisions are considered landmarks in legal circles. For instance, in a notable San Francisco case, he upheld the constitutionality of an ordinance that required all laundries to close between six o'clock in the evening and seven o'clock in the morning. This ordinance aimed to prevent competition between women laundry workers and Asian immigrants. In 1918, Sargent ran for Superior Judge in San Francisco but lost the election.

After serving as a judge, he practiced law in San Francisco until 1930. Following the death of his wife, he moved to Los Angeles, where he resumed his law practice.

Death Sargent died on January 8, 1940, at the home of his son in Los Angeles, California.