Mitchell Gerald Green

Mitchell Gerald Green was born on April 25, 1936, in Tyler, Texas. The third of eight children born to Joseph and Eugenia Green, Mitchell was only two years old when the Green family relocated to Los Angeles to take advantage of a beautiful sun-soaked climate and economic opportunities. Growing up in the Vermont Square neighborhood section of South L.A., Mitchell was part of a bustling and loving family that thrived in the Southern California sun. He grew up in a diverse environment, and in later life would discuss how that multicultural experience proved invaluable in his career path.

Graduating from Manual Arts High School in 1954, Mitchell attended Harbor Junior College and Cal State Los Angeles; he gravitated toward a civil service career, taking jobs with the Flood Control and serving honorably in the U.S. Army. In later life, he would say that his mother helped him find his path, and before long Mitchell became a Los Angeles Municipal Court Clerk. It was a job that he loved, one that allowed him to work closely with judges and attorneys and see the legal system up close. As one of the first African-American clerks in the county, Mitchell gained a reputation as a hard worker with keen legal acumen. While working as a Court Clerk, Mitchell attended law school and passed the California State Bar in 1976.

In 1961, Mitchell met Donna Bishop, and invited her to attend church with him. Mother Eugenia met Donna and stated, “She is the one!” Soon after, they were joined in marriage on January 6, 1962. They built a home in the Crenshaw District and were blessed with 4 sons, Eric, Brian, Brent, and Brandon. As his family and social circle grew, Mitchell also mastered the art of the party, frequently opening his home to colleagues and friends from the court system. Be it a birthday celebration or a PPV fight party, Mitchell’s functions became memorable outings that embodied the cross-section of a diverse Angeleno community.

Mitchell built a thriving private practice, and enjoyed key social contacts in the L.A. community. In 1979, he was appointed to the Board of Building and Safety Commission, and in 1983, he was selected as a Los Angeles Municipal Court Commissioner, becoming the 2nd African-American to hold this position. His assignment over the next 14 years included Traffic, Small Claims, and Criminal at the Metropolitan Courthouse and the Stanley Mosk Civil Courthouse. Following his retirement in 1997, Mitchell and Donna travelled extensively. Mitchell continued his affiliation with the National Bar Association, a group that celebrated African-American attorneys and bench officers. He also devoted much time and attention to his faith as a member of Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, and later, as an ardent member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ.

Mitchell Green passed away on December 6, 2025. He leaves a legacy of hard work, commitment and excellence. His wife, Donna Gayle Bishop Green, preceded him in Paradise after 61 years of marriage. They are together again. They are joined by their sons Eric and Brian Mitchell. Mitchell leaves two sons behind: Brent Michael and Brandon Mark; Donna’s brother Darryl Bishop; Mitchell’s sister, Karen Green-Brown; grandchildren Grace Elizabeth Green, Brynn Morgan Green, and Bria Michelle Green; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.