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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       [Hughes & Luce, L.L.P. Letterhead]

                                 March 26, 1998

Aurora Electronics, Inc.
9477 Waples Street, Suite 150
San Diego, California 92121

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to Aurora Electronics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of up to 41,600,000
(the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $.03 per share (the
"Common Stock"), to be issued by the Company pursuant to that certain Agreement
and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") dated January 30, 1998 by and among the
Company, Holly Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company ("Sub"), and The Cerplex Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Cerplex"), as described in the Registration Statement of the
Company on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement.

        In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon executed
originals, counterparts or copies of such documents, records, and certificates
(including certificates of public officials and officers of the Company) as we
considered necessary or appropriate for enabling us to express the opinions set
forth herein. In all such examinations, we have assumed the authenticity and
completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
originals and completeness of all documents submitted to us as photostatic,
conformed, notarized, or certified copies.

        Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares will be,
if and when issued in exchange for shares of Cerplex Common Stock pursuant to
the terms and conditions of the Agreement, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable, assuming that (i) the stockholders of the Company approve the
amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from 50,000,000 to
300,000,000, and such amendment is filed with and is declared effective by the
Secretary of State of Delaware prior to any such issuance, and (ii) the Company
maintains an adequate number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock
available for such issuance.



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        This opinion may be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
We also consent to the reference to this firm as having passed on the validity
of such shares of Common Stock under the caption "Legal Matters" in the
prospectus that constitutes a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this
consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

                                             Very truly yours,


                                             /s/ HUGHES & LUCE, L.L.P.