Byron Sher

Byron D. Sher (born February 7, 1928) is an American Democratic politician. He served in the California State Senate from 1996 to 2004, prior to which, he served in the California State Assembly between 1980 and 1996. (Sher was first elected to the State Senate by winning a special election for the 11th District seat on March 26, 1996.) He was also a longtime professor at Stanford Law School. He served as the California Senate Rules Committee appointee to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency from 2009 to 2012.

Early life and education Sher was born February 7, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. He received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis and his JD from Harvard Law School. Before beginning his political career, he taught at several schools, including Harvard Law School, Southern Methodist University, the University of Southern California, and Stanford University. He was also a Fulbright research scholar. He was the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee for 11 years.

He authored a bill, signed by Jerry Brown, that increased the statute of limitations for rape from three years to six in response to the fact that many serial rapists—such as Melvin Carter—were able to avoid or partially avoid prosecution due to the shorter limit expiring.

Personal Near the end of his legislative career, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors designated January 30, 2004, as Byron Sher Day, calling him "the most effective environmental legislator in the state."

Sher was married to Linda B. Sher (1932–2014), and they have three children and five grandchildren. They lived together in Palo Alto, California for many decades.