Carlos Moreno ’70

Carlos R. Moreno has spent his life dedicated to the pursuit of justice. Following a distinguished career as a jurist and public servant, he is currently an independent mediator with Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, serving clients in the state of California.

A first-generation Mexican-American and fluent Spanish speaker, Justice Moreno most recently served as the U.S. ambassador to Belize, focusing on citizen security, economic development, and other foreign assistance projects. From 2001 to 2011 he held the position of associate justice on the Supreme Court of California, becoming the third Latino to serve the state in this capacity. During his tenure, he authored more than 140 majority opinions in cases ranging from LGBT rights to arbitration to insurance coverage. Prior to his appointment to the court, he served as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office and spent fifteen years as a trial judge, including service as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Justice Moreno has been recognized for his advocacy for gender equality, the rights of children and the disabled, and diversity in the legal profession. The Hispanic National Bar Association (2009) and Mexican American Bar Association Foundation (2011) both have honored him with lifetime achievement awards. In 2009 he received the Yale Medal for outstanding service to the university. He has served on the Alumni Schools Committee and the Yale Alumni Association Board of Governors and was a co-founder of the Yale Latino Alumni Association. Justice Moreno was elected an alumni fellow in 2020.