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James Alfred
Bardin, for nearly ten years judge of the superior court of Monterey county and
for twenty years a member of the bar, practicing at Salinas and one of the best
known lawyers in this section of California, is a native son of Monterey county
and has been a resident of this county all his life with the exception of the
period spent in finishing his college work in the east and a year thereafter
spent in newspaper work there. Judge Bardin was born on a farm in the immediate
vicinity of Salinas, December 27, 1873, and is a son of Jess and Jeannette
(Cockrill) Bardin, both members of pioneer families of California. His paternal
grandfather had come here from Missouri in 1856. Jesse Bardin became a
substantial farmer and landowner in the Salinas neighborhood and was actively
engaged in farming until his retirement and removal to Salinas, where he and
his wife are now living.
Reared on the home farm
in the vicinity of Salinas, James A. Bardin completed his early education in
the Salinas high school and early decided to enter the legal profession. After
a course of two years of preparatory study at the University of California he
entered the law school of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and in 1899
was graduated from that institution with the degree LL. B. He was admitted to
practice in Michigan and for a year after leaving college was engaged in
newspaper work in that state, gaining thus a variety of experiences that in
many ways proved of value in his later professional career. In 1901 Judge
Bardin returned to his home at Salinas and there became engaged in the practice
of law. In 1906 he was elected to the office of district attorney and in that
capacity rendered four years of public service. He declined to stand for
reelection to this office, preferring private practice, and was thus engaged in
practices at Salinas until in 1914, when he was selected to the bench of the
superior court of Monterey county. By reelection Judge Bardin continued on the
bench for nearly ten years and upon his retirement resumed his private practice
and is now engaged in Salinas, one of the best know lawyers in this section of
California.
In 1904, at Salinas, Judge Bardin
was united in marriage to Miss Mila J. Hills, who also was born in California,
at San Jose, a daughter of Edwin M. Hills, one of the pioneers of that place,
and they have three children, two sons, Daniel G. and Roy E. Bardin, and a
daughter, Miss Mila Jane Bardin.
Judge and Mrs.
Bardin are democrats and have ever given their earnest attention to the general
civic affairs of the community. They have a pleasant home and have for years
been interested and helpful factors in the development of the general social
and cultural activities of the city in which they live. The Judge is a Mason
and is also affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks.
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