Southeast District Bar Association Memorial Scholarship

In memory of the Honorable Lori Ann Fournier, Judge of the California Superior Court of Los Angeles County, SEDBA has created the Southeast District Bar Association Memorial Scholarship to expand opportunities for law-related education in the Southeast District. In its inaugural year, we seek to commemorate her extensive contributions to the Los Angeles courts, to the Southeast District Bar Association, and to the Southeast District legal community as a whole.

Judge Fournier was born and raised on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. She attended the Kamehameha schools, established by the granddaughter of the great princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to educate children of Hawaiian descent.

Judge Fournier began her career on the bench in 2006 when she was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Judge Fournier was first assigned to the Torrance Courthouse (2006-2007), then the Downey Courthouse (2008-2009) where she handled misdemeanors, and her most recent assignment was at the at the Norwalk Courthouse (2010-2021) where she presided over felony cases and a civil law and motion calendar. Judge Fournier served as the Assistant Supervising Judge of the Southeast District from 2016 to 2021. In 2017, the Southeast Bar Association honored her as their Judge of the Year.

Judge Fournier’s service to the Court was preceded by a distinguished career as a Deputy District Attorney for 16 years. She worked in many different courthouses, from West Covina to Santa Monica. Judge Fournier was a Special Assistant to District Attorney Steve Cooley, the Assistant Head Deputy in the Hardcore Gang Division, and the Deputy-in-charge of the Downey office when she was appointed. Her home, however, was always the Norwalk court, where she worked in the hardcore gang division. Judge Fournier held a B.S. in finance from California State University, Los Angeles and received her J.D. from Loyola Law School.

Judge Fournier is survived by her husband, retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Paul Fournier, their son Zachary, a very active 7th grader, and three stepdaughters, Tami, Kali, and Tara. One of her favorite things to do was to watch Zach play baseball, or any of his sports, where you would always find her on the sideline knitting. She was equally adept at being a baseball, flag football, and basketball Mom as she was at being a judicial officer. Judge Fournier was extremely proud when Kali followed her into the practice of law, passed the bar exam and began a career in civil litigation a few years ago. Judge Fournier was a brilliant judge, a gifted lawyer, a beloved and dedicated friend to many, and most of all, a loving and supportive wife and mother.