United States District Court for the Southern District of California

United States District Court for the Southern District of California (S.D. Cal.)
Appeals to	Ninth Circuit
Established	September 28, 1850
Judges assigned	13
Chief judge	Barry Ted Moskowitz
Official site

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (in case citations, S.D. Cal.) is a federal court in the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The District was created on September 28, 1850, following California statehood on September 9, 1850. The state was divided into a Northern and Southern district. The Judicial Circuits Act of 1866 abolished the Northern and Southern districts, re-organizing California as a single circuit district. On August 5, 1886 the Southern district was re-established, following the division of the state into Northern and Southern districts. The district was further divided on March 18, 1966 with the creation of the Central district.^[1]

The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is Laura Duffy, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 28, 2010.

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of four federal judicial districts in California.^[2] Court for the District is held at El Centro and the Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse and U.S. Courthouse Annex in San Diego. The district comprises Imperial and San Diego counties.

Current judges

#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Term of service			Appointed by
					Active	Chief	Senior
53	Chief Judge	Barry Ted Moskowitz	San Diego	1950	1995–present	2012–present	—	Clinton
50	District Judge	Marilyn L. Huff	San Diego	1951	1991–present	1998–2005	—	G.H.W. Bush
57	District Judge	Larry Alan Burns	San Diego	1954	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
58	District Judge	Dana Makoto Sabraw	San Diego	1958	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
59	District Judge	William Q. Hayes	San Diego	1956	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
60	District Judge	John A. Houston	San Diego	1952	2003–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
61	District Judge	Roger T. Benitez	San Diego	1950	2004–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
62	District Judge	Janis Lynn Sammartino	San Diego	1950	2007–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
63	District Judge	Michael M. Anello	San Diego	1943	2008–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
64	District Judge	Anthony J. Battaglia	San Diego	1949	2011–present	—	—	Obama
65	District Judge	Cathy Ann Bencivengo	San Diego	1958	2012–present	—	—	Obama
66	District Judge	Gonzalo P. Curiel	San Diego	1953	2012–present	—	—	Obama
67	District Judge	Cynthia Ann Bashant	San Diego	1960	2014–present	—	—	Obama
44	Senior Judge	William Benner Enright	San Diego	1925	1972–1990	—	1990–present	Nixon
54	Senior Judge	Jeffrey T. Miller	San Diego	1943	1997–2010	—	2010–present	Clinton
55	Senior Judge	Thomas J. Whelan	San Diego	1940	1998–2010	—	2010–present	Clinton
56	Senior Judge	M. James Lorenz	San Diego	1935	1999–2009	—	2009–present	Clinton

Former judges

#	Judge	State	Born/Died	Active service	Chief Judge	Senior status	Appointed by	Reason for termination
1	Jones, James McHallJames McHall Jones	CA	1823–1851	1850–1851	—	—	Fillmore, Fillmore	death
2	Hoffman, Jr., OgdenOgden Hoffman, Jr.	CA	1822–1891	1852[3]–1854	—	—	Fillmore, Fillmore	reassignment
3	Ogier, Isaac Stockton KeithIsaac Stockton Keith Ogier	CA	1819–1861	1854–1861	—	—	Pierce, Pierce	death
4	Haight, Fletcher MathewsFletcher Mathews Haight	CA	1799–1866	1861–1866	—	—	Lincoln, Lincoln	death
5	Ross, Erskine MayoErskine Mayo Ross	CA	1845–1928	1887–1895	—	—	Cleveland, Cleveland	reappointment
6	Wellborn, OlinOlin Wellborn	CA	1843–1921	1895–1915	—	—	Cleveland, Cleveland	retirement
7	Bledsoe, Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin Bledsoe	CA	1874–1938	1914–1925	—	—	Wilson, Wilson	resignation
8	Trippet, Oscar A.Oscar A. Trippet	CA	1856–1923	1915–1923	—	—	Wilson, Wilson	death
9	James, William P.William P. James	CA	1870–1940	1923–1940	—	—	Harding, Harding	death
10	McCormick, Paul JohnPaul John McCormick	CA	1879–1960	1924–1951	1948–1951	1951–1960	Coolidge, Coolidge	death
11	Henning, Edward J.Edward J. Henning	CA	1868–1937	1925–1929	—	—	Coolidge, Coolidge	resignation
12	Cosgrave, GeorgeGeorge Cosgrave	CA	1870–1945	1930–1940	—	1940–1945	Hoover, Hoover	death
13	Hollzer, Harry AaronHarry Aaron Hollzer	CA	1880–1946	1931–1946	—	—	Hoover, Hoover	death
14	Stephens, Sr., Albert LeeAlbert Lee Stephens, Sr.	CA	1874–1965	1935–1937	—	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	reappointment
15	Yankwich, Leon ReneLeon Rene Yankwich	CA	1888–1975	1935–1964	1951–1959	1964–1966	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	reassignment
16	Jenney, Ralph E.Ralph E. Jenney	CA	1883–1945	1937–1945	—	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
17	Beaumont, Campbell EbenCampbell Eben Beaumont	CA	1883–1954	1939–1954	—	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
18	Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison	CA	1888–1960	1940–1960	1959	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
19	O'Connor, James Francis ThaddeusJames Francis Thaddeus O'Connor	CA	1886–1949	1940–1949	—	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	death
20	Hall, Peirson MitchellPeirson Mitchell Hall	CA	1894–1979	1942–1966	1959–1964	—	Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt	reassignment
21	Mathes, William CareyWilliam Carey Mathes	CA	1899–1967	1945–1965	1964–1965	1965–1967	Truman, Truman	death
22	Weinberger, JacobJacob Weinberger	CA	1882–1974	1946–1958	—	1958–1974	Truman, Truman	death
23	Carter, James MarshallJames Marshall Carter	CA	1904–1979	1949–1967	1966–1967	—	Truman, Truman	reappointment
24	Westover, Harry ClayHarry Clay Westover	CA	1894–1983	1949–1965	—	1965–1983	Truman, Truman	death
25	Byrne, Sr., William MatthewWilliam Matthew Byrne, Sr.	CA	1896–1974	1950–1966	1965–1966	1966	Truman, Truman	reassignment
26	Tolin, Ernest AllenErnest Allen Tolin	CA	1904–1961	1951[4]–1961	—	—	Truman, Truman	death
27	Jertberg, Gilbert H.Gilbert H. Jertberg	CA	1897–1973	1955–1958	—	—	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	reappointment
28	Clarke, ThurmondThurmond Clarke	CA	1902–1971	1955–1966	1966	—	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	reassignment
29	Kunzel, FredFred Kunzel	CA	1901–1969	1959–1969	1967–1969	—	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	death
30	Crocker, Myron DonovanMyron Donovan Crocker	CA	1915–2010	1959–1966	—	—	Eisenhower, Eisenhower	reassignment
31	Stephens, Jr., Albert LeeAlbert Lee Stephens, Jr.	CA	1913–2001	1961–1966	—	—	Kennedy, Kennedy	reassignment
32	Carr, Charles HardyCharles Hardy Carr	CA	1903–1976	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy, Kennedy	reassignment
33	Curtis, Jr., Jesse WilliamJesse William Curtis, Jr.	CA	1905–2008	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy, Kennedy	reassignment
34	Crary, Elisha AveryElisha Avery Crary	CA	1905–1978	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy, Kennedy	reassignment
35	Whelan, Francis C.Francis C. Whelan	CA	1907–1991	1964–1966	—	—	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	reassignment
36	Hill, IrvingIrving Hill	CA	1915–1998	1965–1966	—	—	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	reassignment
37	Hauk, A. AndrewA. Andrew Hauk	CA	1912–2004	1966	—	—	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	reassignment
38	Gray, William PercivalWilliam Percival Gray	CA	1912–1992	1966	—	—	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	reassignment
39	Schwartz, Edward JosephEdward Joseph Schwartz	CA	1912–2000	1968–1982	1969–1982	1982–2000	Johnson, L.L. Johnson	death
40	Turrentine, Howard BoydHoward Boyd Turrentine	CA	1914–2010	1970–1984	1982–1984	1984–2010	Nixon, Nixon	death
41	Thompson, Jr., GordonGordon Thompson, Jr.	CA	1929–2015	1970–1994	1984–1991	1994–2015	Nixon, Nixon	death
42	Wallace, John CliffordJohn Clifford Wallace	CA	1928–present	1970–1972	—	—	Nixon, Nixon	reappointment
43	Nielsen, Leland ChrisLeland Chris Nielsen	CA	1919–1999	1971–1985	—	1985–1999	Nixon, Nixon	death
45	Keep, JudithJudith Keep	CA	1944–2004	1980–2004	1991–1998	—	Carter, Carter	death
46	Gilliam, Earl BenEarl Ben Gilliam	CA	1931–2001	1980–1993	—	1993–2001	Carter, Carter	death
47	Irving, J. LawrenceJ. Lawrence Irving	CA	1935–present	1982–1990	—	—	Reagan, Reagan	resignation
48	Rudi M. Brewster	CA	1932–2012	1984–1998	—	1998–2012	Reagan	death
49	Rhoades, Sr., John SkylsteadJohn Skylstead Rhoades, Sr.	CA	1925–2007	1985–1995	—	1995–2007	Reagan, Reagan	death
51	Gonzalez, Irma ElsaIrma Elsa Gonzalez	CA	1948–present	1992–2013	2005–2012	2013	G.H.W. Bush	retirement
52	Jones Jr., Napoleon A.Napoleon A. Jones Jr.	CA	1940–2009	1994–2007	—	2007–2009	Clinton, Clinton	death

Succession of seats

Seat 1 Seat established on September 28, 1850 by 9 Stat. 521 J. Jones 1850–1851 Seat abolished on August 31, 1852 by 10 Stat. 76, 84 Seat restablished on January 18, 1854 by 10 Stat. 265 Ogier 1854–1861 Haight 1861–1866 Seat abolished on July 27, 1866 by 14 Stat. 300 Seat reestablished on August 5, 1886 by 24 Stat. 308 Ross 1887–1895 Wellborn 1895–1915 Trippet 1915–1923 McCormick 1924–1951 Tolin 1952–1961 Crary 1962–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 2 Seat assigned on August 31, 1852 by 10 Stat. 76, 84 (concurrent with Northern District) Hoffman, Jr. 1852–1854 Seat reassigned solely to Northern District on January 18, 1854 by 10 Stat. 265

Seat 3 Seat established on July 30, 1914 by 38 Stat. 580 Bledsoe 1914–1925 Henning 1925–1929 Cosgrave 1930–1940 Hall 1942–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 4 Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary) Seat made permanent on August 19, 1935 by 49 Stat. 659 James 1923–1940 O'Connor 1940–1949 Byrne, Sr. 1950–1966 Hauk 1966–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 5 Seat established on July 27, 1930 by 46 Stat. 819 Hollzer 1931–1946 Weinberger 1946–1958 Kunzel 1959–1969 Turrentine 1970–1984 Brewster 1984–1998 Lorenz 1999–2009 Battaglia 2011–present

Seat 6 Seat established on August 2, 1935 by 49 Stat. 508 A.L. Stephens, Sr. 1935–1937 Jenney 1937–1945 Mathes 1945–1965 Hill 1965–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 7 Seat established on August 2, 1935 by 49 Stat. 508 Yankwich 1935–1964 F. Whelan 1964–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 8 Seat established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584, 585 Beaumont 1939–1954 Jertberg 1955–1958 Crocker 1959–1966 Seat reassigned to Eastern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 9 Seat established on May 24, 1940 by 54 Stat. 219, 220 Harrison 1940–1960 A.L. Stephens, Jr. 1961–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 10 Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 Westover 1949–1965 Gray 1966–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 11 Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 Carter 1949–1967 Schwartz 1968–1982 Irving 1982–1990 Gonzalez 1992–2013 Bashant 2014–present

Seat 12 Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8 Clarke 1955–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 13 Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 Carr 1962–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 14 Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 Curtis, Jr. 1962–1966 Seat reassigned to Central District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75

Seat 15 Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 Wallace 1970–1972 Enright 1972–1990 Huff 1991–present

Seat 16 Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 Thompson, Jr. 1970–1994 Miller 1997–2010 Bencivengo 2012–present

Seat 17 Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 Nielsen 1971–1985 Rhoades, Sr. 1985–1995 T. Whelan 1998–2010 Curiel 2012–present

Seat 18 Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Keep 1980–2004 Sammartino 2007–present

Seat 19 Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 Gilliam 1980–1993 N. Jones, Jr. 1994–2007 Anello 2008–present

Seat 20 Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Moskowitz 1995–present

Seat 21 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Burns 2003–present

Seat 22 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Sabraw 2003–present

Seat 23 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Hayes 2003–present

Seat 24 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Houston 2003–present

Seat 25 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Benitez 2004–present

See also

• Courts of California
• List of United States federal courthouses in California

Notes

1. http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_ca.html U.S. District Courts of California, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
2. 28 U.S.C. § 84
3. Initially appointed to the Northern District of California in 1851 by Millard Fillmore; Act of August 31, 1852 made the judge of the Northern District be judge of the Southern District as well.
4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on March 3, 1952, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10, 1952, and received commission on June 11, 1952.

External links

• United States District Court for the Southern District of California
• United States Attorney for the Southern District of California