Alexander Van Rensselaer Paterson (March 2, 1849 – July 27, 1902) was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from December 22, 1886 to May 3, 1894.

[7] He resigned from that office to accept the nomination for judge of San Joaquin County Superior Court, and he was elected.

[14] In 1899, William H. Beatty replaced Searls as Chief Justice, and John D. Works took the seat of McKinstry in Department One.

[16] In March 1898, the remaining member, Judge Charles W. Slack of the San Francisco County Superior Court, resigned from the bench and joined the firm.

[17][18][19] Paterson's notable cases as counsel include the James Graham Fair will contest, where he was appointed by the court as the representative of the minor heirs.