John A. "Shootin'" Houghton is a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles. He earned his nickname based on a story in which he quieted an unruly courtroom by drawing a Glock from his robes and firing a round into the ceiling.
In April of 1999, he signed search warrants for the home, office, and car of murdered civil rights attorney Howard Elias.
In January of 2001, he presided over the criminal trial of David Storey for the murder of Jody Krementz.
In January of 2002, he received from Harry Bosch search warrant applications to all 29 of the hospitals in the Los Angeles area requesting information on male patients under 16 years of age who had undergone trephination of the brain between 1975 and 1985. These search warrants were needed for the investigation relating to the bones that were found in the vacant lot at the end of Wonderland Avenue. Judge Houghton approved the warrants. Later, when the identity of Arthur Delacroix was determined, Houghton signed an addendum to a warrant authorizing the seizure of medical records pertaining to Delacroix.
Appearances
- Angels Flight (mentioned)
- A Darkness More Than Night
- City of Bones (mentioned)