This tribute-style blog post looks back on the life and work of Marin County Superior Court Judge Faye Carolyn D’Opal. She served Marin for 12 years, shaping access to justice, LGBTQ rights, and public safety from Greenbrae to San Rafael and beyond.
Born in Arkansas, she built a career that spanned civil, family, and probate law. Her deep commitment to Marin residents stands out, and her passing in late March closes a remarkable chapter in local history, honored by family, colleagues, and even national observers.
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Early life and path to the judiciary
D’Opal grew up in northeast Arkansas, where she saw racial discrimination firsthand. That experience nudged her toward the law, and hearing Thurgood Marshall speak in high school really inspired her.
After graduating from Hendrix College, she joined the Peace Corps as one of its first women volunteers. She served in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Brazil and then earned her law degree from the New College of California School of Law.
That education anchored decades of public service in Marin County. She never seemed to lose sight of where she started.
From Peace Corps to the courtroom
Before she became a judge, D’Opal practiced civil, family, and probate law. She also worked as an attorney for Legal Aid of Marin and led as legal director of the Legal Self-Help Center of Marin.
She pushed to expand access to justice for people who might otherwise get left out. In a county with towns from Mill Valley to Novato, her work touched hundreds of Marin families and individuals looking for fair treatment.
Judicial career and public service in Marin
In 2004, voters elected D’Opal to the bench. Early on, she presided over a dangerous, multi-defendant homicide case and brought back a DUI trial-observation program for high school students.
That initiative helped educate Marin’s younger generations about the courts. Her fairness and diligence earned respect in towns like San Anselmo, Corte Madera, Tiburon, and Larkspur.
Landmark rulings and national attention
In 2011, D’Opal blocked a lethal injection execution, deciding the state’s three-drug protocol wasn’t lawfully justified. That move drew national attention and showed her commitment to constitutional safeguards and due process.
Her rulings and temperament reflected a judge who handled tough cases with dignity. Her widow Wanden Treanor and family often highlighted that in public remembrances.
She retired in 2017, but her influence still lingers among local judges in towns from Fairfax to Ross.
- She co-founded the Triangle Alliance of Marin, the county’s first LGBTQ political action committee, marking her advocacy for marginalized communities.
- D’Opal pushed hard for access to justice for people with limited resources, shaping services all over Marin County.
- She mentored younger lawyers and students, connecting Marin’s civic life to bigger national conversations on civil rights and criminal justice reform.
Legacy, remembrance, and community impact
Communities across Marin—from Greenbrae and San Rafael to Sausalito and Novato—pause to remember a judge who balanced firmness with compassion. The family plans a memorial for June 20, and the county will fly flags at half-staff June 18–20 to honor her work.
In a time when justice matters to everyone, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman will submit a statement for the Congressional Record to recognize D’Opal’s service and influence. That gesture really shows how Marin County’s courts can echo on a national stage.
D’Opal is survived by her wife, Wanden Treanor, daughters Yara and Erika Sellin, four grandchildren, siblings, and extended family. Her life—spanning Peace Corps service, Marin’s legal aid network, and a bench dedicated to equity—feels like a blueprint for future generations who call the Marin County Courthouse, San Rafael, and nearby towns home.
Looking ahead in Marin
Marin County keeps changing and growing. From the waterfront bustle of Sausalito to the hills of Mill Valley and the downtowns of Novato, you can feel the energy shift every year.
D’Opal’s example stands out as a lodestar for lawyers, students, and judges. Her story—rooted in Marin values like fairness, service, and inclusive justice—still calls out to anyone who cares about protecting the vulnerable.
Honestly, it feels like she’s reminding us that every Marin resident deserves a seat at the table of justice. Isn’t that what we all want?
Here is the source article for this story: Faye D’Opal, retired Marin County judge, dies at 85
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