The Private Life Of Judge Lance Ito: Where Is The O.J. Simpson Trial Judge Today?

Decades after presiding over the most publicized criminal case in American history—the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial—Judge Lance Ito remains one of the most recognizable, yet intensely private, figures in modern judicial history. As of , the retired Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge has successfully retreated from the intense media spotlight that defined his career, choosing a quiet life far removed from the courtroom drama that earned him global fame.

The latest and most significant update on Judge Ito’s life is the profound personal loss he experienced in 2021, a detail that underscores his commitment to a life of quiet dignity following his retirement. He has largely vanished from public view, a conscious decision to reclaim the privacy that was stripped away by the "Trial of the Century."

Judge Lance Ito: A Complete Biography and Profile

Judge Lance Allan Ito’s career was long and distinguished, spanning decades in the Los Angeles legal system, though it is inextricably linked to the 1995 O.J. Simpson case.

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• Full Name: Lance Allan Ito
• Born: August 2, 1950
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Education: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
• Early Career: Began his career as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles County in 1977, serving in the elite gang unit.
• Judicial Appointments: Appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1987 and then the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1989.
• Most Famous Case: Presided over the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman (1994–1995).
• Wife: Margaret Ann "Peggy" York (married 1981; died October 17, 2021). York was the first female Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
• Retirement: Retired from the Superior Court bench in January 2015.
• Current Status: Retired and maintaining a fiercely private life out of the public eye.

The O.J. Simpson Trial: Ito’s Defining, Controversial Role

The O.J. Simpson murder case, often dubbed the "Trial of the Century," was a media phenomenon that transformed Judge Ito from a respected, low-key jurist into an international celebrity. His decisions, particularly the one to allow television cameras in the courtroom, shaped the public's perception of the entire judicial process.

The trial was a high-stakes, nine-month spectacle featuring seismic legal figures like Johnnie Cochran, Marcia Clark, and Robert Shapiro. Ito’s courtroom became a stage for daily drama, from the infamous "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" moment involving the glove evidence to the testimony of Detective Mark Fuhrman.

The Fuhrman Tapes and the Conflict of Interest

One of the most intense legal challenges Ito faced involved his own personal life. His wife, Margaret Ann York, was a high-ranking officer in the LAPD. During the trial, defense attorneys sought to introduce audiotapes of Detective Mark Fuhrman, a key prosecution witness, using racial slurs and discussing police misconduct.

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The defense argued that the tapes were admissible and, furthermore, that Ito had a conflict of interest because his wife, York, was Fuhrman's former supervising officer. The defense suggested that Fuhrman had made derogatory comments about York on the tapes, which could prejudice the judge.

Ito was forced to hold a hearing on the matter and ultimately ruled that only a limited portion of the tapes—specifically Fuhrman's perjury about using racial slurs—could be presented to the jury. Crucially, he determined that the tapes did not contain any comments about his wife, allowing him to continue presiding over the case. This moment was a stark illustration of how deeply the trial's spotlight invaded his private world.

Life After the Verdict: Retirement and a Return to Anonymity

Despite the notoriety, Judge Ito continued his judicial duties for two decades after the Simpson acquittal. He presided over more than 500 additional cases, working to shed the celebrity status that the "Trial of the Century" had imposed upon him.

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In January 2015, Judge Ito officially retired from the Los Angeles County Superior Court bench, citing budget cuts that had led to the closure of his courtroom a few years prior. His exit was as quiet as his tenure was loud. He made it clear that he had no major post-retirement plans, instead embracing a life of anonymity.

The Fierce Commitment to Privacy

Since the Simpson trial, Judge Ito has been famously reticent. He has consistently and firmly refused nearly all requests for interviews or commentary on the case, a stark contrast to many other figures from the trial who have capitalized on their fame.

This deliberate silence is a key part of his post-judicial life. He chose to step away from the limelight entirely, a move that many speculate was a direct response to the intense, often mocking, media scrutiny he endured during the mid-1990s. His privacy is his most guarded asset.

The Heartbreaking Loss: Margaret Ann York and Ito’s Weekly Homage

The most poignant and recent development in Lance Ito’s life is the death of his beloved wife, Margaret Ann "Peggy" York, on October 17, 2021, at the age of 80. York was a trailblazer in the LAPD, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief, a first for a woman in the department.

The story of their meeting is a testament to their shared commitment to law and order: they met at a murder scene in Highland Park at 4 a.m. while he was a prosecutor and she was a detective. Their marriage lasted 40 years.

York’s obituary described Ito as her "heartbroken and lost husband." This personal tragedy is the only glimpse the public has had into the judge's private world in recent years. A 2022 column in the Los Angeles Times mentioned his "weekly homage" to his late wife, suggesting a quiet, devoted life focused on remembrance and personal healing.

A Lasting Legacy Beyond the Gavel

While the O.J. Simpson trial will forever be his professional footnote, Judge Ito’s legacy extends beyond the celebrity circus. His pre-trial work as a prosecutor in the gang unit and his decades of service on the Superior Court bench are a reminder of his dedication to the Los Angeles legal system.

He is a symbol of the complexities of modern justice, where the line between a high-profile criminal case and a media spectacle can blur instantly. Though he has retired, his name remains synonymous with the moment when the American legal system truly became televised entertainment. His continued refusal to discuss the case is his final, powerful statement on the matter: a judge's work is done when the gavel falls, and the rest is private life.