Plumas County Superior Court Judge Douglas M. Prouty retired on October 9 after 44 years as an attorney.
His career included private practice, mediation, and public defense. He joined the bench in February 2018, appointed by former Governor Jerry Brown.
Prouty said serving Plumas County for nearly nine years was an honor. He praised his fellow judges, staff, and the judicial community for keeping the court system stable.
Judge Bill Abramson, the county’s other Superior Court judge, first met Prouty in 1996 during a restraining order case. They later worked together as co-defendants’ attorneys in a jury trial Abramson called one of his favorites. Abramson said he is glad to have been Prouty’s judicial colleague.
District Attorney David Hollister described Prouty as a steady influence on the courts. No cases went to appeal during Prouty’s time as judge, he noted.
Prouty grew up moving around as the child of an Army colonel. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1971 with a history degree, then earned a law degree from San Francisco Law School in 1982.
He started in a small San Francisco law firm before moving to Truckee with his family in 1987 to open a private practice. He and his wife ran Timberline Mediation Services, focusing on family law mediation. Prouty handled legal matters while his wife addressed family concerns.
In 2000, Prouty moved to Quincy and expanded his general practice to include criminal law and court appointments. He served as a public defender until his judicial appointment in 2018.
Prouty faced challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and wildland fires, including the North Complex and Dixie fires. The court adapted by using Zoom and working remotely.
As the primary liaison with the California Judicial Council, Prouty helped coordinate plans for a new courthouse on Lawrence Street in Quincy. The project is now in the state environmental review phase.
Serving in a two-judge court gave Prouty a wide range of cases, from traffic violations to child protective services and criminal felonies. He called it a fulfilling career.
Outside the courtroom, Prouty has a passion for rafting and kayaking. He has run most northern California rivers and others in Oregon and Colorado. He worked as a commercial rafting guide and helped fight a proposed dam on the American River.
Prouty introduced inner-city kids to river experiences, opening their eyes to
