COURT DECISION: REFEREE REMARKABLE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - In a surprise ceremony arranged by judges, Ross Amspoker was honored Monday for his many years of service and leadership in Antelope Valley legal and civic affairs.

In 1950, he was the first attorney to open a full-time office in Palmdale. In 1993, Amspoker was hired as a Superior Court referee, acting as a judge in civil cases. In 2002, he was one of four Antelope Valley referees who were laid off as part of a cost-cutting move by Los Angeles County Superior Court.

He continued to work as a court referee - but for free. Now he volunteers his time in court, hearing probate matters one to two days a week.

``We are here to honor Ross for his many years of valuable service. When he could've retired, ... Ross has volunteered his time,'' supervising Antelope Valley Superior Court Judge Thomas White said. ``He has to pay his bar dues for the privilege of working for free because that's his love and what he wants to do.''

Amspoker, 83, emotionally thanked representatives of the court and city and county governments for their commendations and proclamations.

``I should explain at a certain age you lose control of your emotions,'' Amspoker said, fighting back tears. ``So I'll just say it's been a privilege to serve, I want to continue doing so, I appreciate you being here, you're a great group of people, and I'm eternally grateful.''

Besides fellow judicial officials, the group included Amspoker's wife, Beryl; one of his three sons, Todd, an attorney from Santa Barbara; Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford; and Norm Hickling, an aide to Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Hickling said Amspoker is ``truly an example to us all on how to make a community a better place.''

Amspoker's public service has included serving as president of the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce, trustee in the Palmdale School and Antelope Valley College districts, and president of the Antelope Valley Bar Association.

As an attorney in private practice until 1996, he handled probate, property, criminal cases and other matters.

The son of an educator and one of six children, Amspoker worked his way through college as a gardener, elevator operator and postal telegraph operator until he received a degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley, in 1942.

After serving in the U.S. Air Army Corps and Signal Corps in Europe from 1943 to 1945 during World War II, Amspoker entered Boalt Hall, the law school at Berkeley, in 1946 and got his law degree three years later. He was admitted to the bar in 1950.

When he was a youngster, his family and friends predicted his future, telling him he would be a lawyer because he was always arguing, Amspoker said in an interview with the Daily News in 1993.

Judge Frank Jackson said he was able to get Amspoker to the Bakers Square restaurant for the surprise ceremony by concocting a story about his wife leaving a pair of sunglasses there.

``Frank Jackson and I got together and came up with this idea of trying to honor him,'' White said before the ceremony. ``Since we can't pay him, at least we can honor him for his fine service. We've been fortunate to have him come back and help.''

Upon entering a room at the restaurant and seeing the group there to honor him, Amspoker said, ``Geez'' and put a hand over his eyes. When he sat down at the head table, he said he should have brought a tie.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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(color) His wife, Beryl, looks on as Ross Amspoker, 83, center, jokes with Judge Frank Jackson on Monday at a surprise gathering honoring Amspoker, a Superior Court referee who hears cases for free to help judges handle the workload.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News