William B. Keene

William Bigby Keene (February 23, 1925 – January 10, 2018) was an American attorney, and a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge from 1965 to 1984. He also appeared as Judge Herman Keene in the episode "Whistle Stop" in the legal drama L.A. Law.

William Bigby Keene was born on February 23, 1925, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of James and Effie Keene. During his judicial career he was originally assigned to the trial of Charles Manson but was later replaced after Manson filed an affidavit of prejudice. He later presided over the trial of serial killer William Bonin and sentenced him to death (Bonin was executed in 1996). Keene graduated from the UCLA School of Law in 1952, They had two children: Andy Keene and Kerry Keene Padilla and six grandchildren. Keene died on January 10, 2018, at the age of 92