Charles Older

Charles Herman Older (September 29, 1917 – June 17, 2006) was an American judge and flying ace. He was the third highest scoring ace of the American Volunteer Group (the "Flying Tigers") and later the judge in the Charles Manson murder trial.

Early life Older was born in Hanford, California, on September 29, 1917. He earned a degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1952.

In 1950, he was called back to active duty, flying the Douglas B-26 Invader in the Korean War. After a distinguished legal career, he was appointed to the bench of the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Ronald Reagan in 1967. The trial lasted 10 months, the longest in American history at the time. Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi praised Older for his firm, but fair, handling of the difficult case. At one point, Manson tried to attack the judge and had to be restrained by bailiffs.

Death On June 17, 2006, he died at the age of 88 of complications from a fall in his home in West Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife, Catherine Day Older, and three daughters.