Judge Phillip J. Argento: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. Phillip J. Argento (Ret.) served as a judge for the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California. Argento was initially appointed to the Pasadena Municipal Court by former Governor Jerry Brown in 1982. He was subsequently elevated to the Superior Court upon court unification in 2000.

Prior to his appointment, Argento worked as an attorney in private practice. He was an associate at Bolton & Gelbard, the Law Office of Martin L. Abrams, and Breidenbach, Swainston, Yokaitis & Crispo.

Argento earned a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in 1967. He then completed a master’s degree in Journalism at the University of California, Los Angeles (1968) and a J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center (1975).

His memberships have included the Presiding Judges Association of Los Angeles County (chair). He also sat on the Executive Committee of the California Judges Association.

Born in Rochester, New York, Argento was raised in Los Angeles and Alhambra. He served in the United States Army Reserve as a military policeman before joining the campaign of Democratic Senate hopeful John Tunney. From 1970 to 1972, he worked in the senator’s office in Washington, D.C.

Argento retired from the bench on August 1, 2005 and joined the Assigned Judges Program.