The Honorable James William "Bill" McLafferty Jr. of Goleta, Calif., formerly of Butler and New Brighton, died Jan. 15 in the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Butler, June 14, 1939, he was a son of the late James William "Bill" and Dorothy Heberling McLafferty.

Bill was a 1957 graduate of New Brighton High School and a 1965 graduate of Duquesne University, and he earned his juris doctoral degree from the Duquesne University School of Law.

After practicing law in the Pittsburgh area for a few years, Bill moved to California where he served as a partner in the law firm of Archibald and Spray.

In 1997, then Gov. Pete Wilson appointed Bill to the Santa Barbara County Superior Court Bench. He served as presiding judge during the 2007-2008 term.

Bill is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carol (Briano) McLafferty; daughters, AnnaLisa, Angela and Allison Francesca; and a son, John. Also surviving are brothers, Robert (Kay) of Butler and Brian (Betty Jane) of Solon, Ohio; a sister, Bonnie McLafferty of Cincinnati, Ohio.; his mother-in-law, Lupe Briano of Porterville, Calif.; and sisters-in-law, Kathy Briano (Larry Dutto) and Giovanna (David) DePaoli of Strathmore, Calif. Also surviving are a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts.

<B>MCLAFFERTY — </B>Services for the Honorable James William "Bill" McLafferty Jr., who died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, will be Saturday, Jan. 23, in California.Arrangements are being handled by <B>Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels</B> of Santa Barbara, Calif.