Who is Judge Jim Gray?

Judge James (Jim) P. Gray is a nationally known and respected author and speaker who has long advocated reform of the nation’s drug laws. A highly regarded jurist, Judge Gray served on California’s Orange County Superior Court from 1989 to 2024. His hundreds of media appearances have included Fox News, ABC, C-SPAN and radio stations across the country. He is the author of three books.

History & Family

Raised in the Los Angeles area, Jim Gray’s father, William P Gray, was a Judge on the U.S. District Court. After earning his undergraduate degree from UCLA and his law degree from USC, Judge Gray served as a staff Judge Advocate and criminal defense attorney in the U.S. Navy’s JAG Corps.

Following his Navy service, for which he was awarded Vietnam Service and Combat Action Ribbons, Gray worked as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

In 1983, Governor George Deukmejian appointed Gray to the Santa Ana Municipal Court, and in 1989, elevated him to the Orange County Superior Court. He retired from the Superior Court in 2024.

Judge Gray has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Western State University College of Law, as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Chapman University School of Law.

Jim Gray is married to Dr. Grace Walker Gray and has four children, including an adopted Vietnamese son. They reside in Newport Beach, California.

Personal Accomplishments:

A respected and outspoken advocate for reform of California and federal drug laws, Judge Gray is the author of a 2024 book, Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed: A Judicial Indictment Of War On Drugs, and was featured in the 2024 documentary, American Drug War: The Last White Hope.

He is one of the principal sponsors of a 2024 California ballot initiative to regulate cannabis production and consumption similarly to wine.

He is also the author of Wearing the Robe: The Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today’s Courts and A Voter’s Handbook: Effective Solutions to America’s Problems.

He is also the author & composer of the musical,Americans All. To watch the musical click here.

In 2024, the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange Country named its annual “Judge of the Year” award after Judge Gray.

For more information about Judge Gray, visit www.judgejimgray.com.