United States District Court for the Southern District of California

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).

United States District Court for the Southern District of California
(S.D. Cal.)
Location	Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse (San Diego) More locations James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse (San Diego) El Centro
Appeals to	Ninth Circuit
Established	August 5, 1886
Judges	13
Chief Judge	Dana Sabraw
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney	Tara McGrath
U.S. Marshal	Steven C. Stafford
www.casd.uscourts.gov

The District was created on September 28, 1850, following the passage of the California Statehood Act 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 and Eastern districts.^[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. As of October 5, 2023^[update] the United States attorney is Tara McGrath.^[2]

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of four federal district courts in California.^[3] 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

As of May 1, 2024^[update]:

#	Title	Judge	Duty station	Born	Term of service			Appointed by
					Active	Chief	Senior
58	Chief Judge	Dana Sabraw	San Diego	1958	2003–present	2021–present	—	G.W. Bush
62	District Judge	Janis Lynn Sammartino	San Diego	1950	2007–present	—	—	G.W. Bush
65	District Judge	Cathy Ann Bencivengo	San Diego	1958	2012–present	—	—	Obama
67	District Judge	Cynthia Bashant	San Diego	1960	2014–present	—	—	Obama
68	District Judge	Todd W. Robinson	San Diego	1967	2020–present	—	—	Trump
69	District Judge	Linda Lopez	San Diego	1968	2021–present	—	—	Biden
70	District Judge	Jinsook Ohta	San Diego	1976	2021–present	—	—	Biden
71	District Judge	Ruth Bermudez Montenegro	San Diego	1967	2022–present	—	—	Biden
72	District Judge	Robert S. Huie	San Diego	1976	2022–present	—	—	Biden
73	District Judge	Andrew G. Schopler	San Diego	1971	2023–present[Note 1]	—	—	Biden
74	District Judge	James E. Simmons Jr.	San Diego	1979	2023–present	—	—	Biden
75	District Judge	vacant	—	—	—	—	—	—
76	District Judge	vacant	—	—	—	—	—	—
50	Senior Judge	Marilyn L. Huff	San Diego	1951	1991–2016	1998–2005	2016–present	G.H.W. Bush
53	Senior Judge	Barry Ted Moskowitz	San Diego	1950	1995–2019	2012–2019	2019–present	Clinton
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
59	Senior Judge	William Q. Hayes	San Diego	1956	2003–2021	—	2021–present	G.W. Bush
60	Senior Judge	John A. Houston	San Diego	1952	2003–2018	—	2018–present	G.W. Bush
61	Senior Judge	Roger Benitez	San Diego	1950	2004–2017	—	2017–present	G.W. Bush
63	Senior Judge	Michael Anello	San Diego	1943	2008–2018	—	2018–present	G.W. Bush
64	Senior Judge	Anthony J. Battaglia	San Diego	1949	2011–2021	—	2021–present	Obama
66	Senior Judge	Gonzalo P. Curiel	San Diego	1953	2012–2023	—	2023–present	Obama

1. By virtue of his seniority of age, Judge Schopler holds seniority over Judge Simmons despite their identical commission dates.

Vacancies and pending nominations

Seat	Prior judge's duty station	Seat last held by	Vacancy reason	Date of vacancy	Nominee	Date of nomination
23	San Diego	William Q. Hayes	Senior status	August 1, 2021	Rebecca S. Kanter	February 1, 2024
17		Gonzalo P. Curiel		September 7, 2023	Benjamin J. Cheeks	pending

Former judges

#	Judge	State	Born–died	Active service	Chief Judge	Senior status	Appointed by	Reason for termination
1	James McHall Jones	CA	1823–1851	1850–1851	—	—	Fillmore	death
2	Ogden Hoffman Jr.	CA	1822–1891	1852–1854[Note 1]	—	—	Fillmore/Operation of law	seat abolished
3	Isaac Stockton Keith Ogier	CA	1819–1861	1854–1861	—	—	Pierce	death
4	Fletcher Mathews Haight	CA	1799–1866	1861–1866	—	—	Lincoln	death
5	Erskine Mayo Ross	CA	1845–1928	1887–1895	—	—	Cleveland	elevation to 9th Cir.
6	Olin Wellborn	CA	1843–1921	1895–1915	—	—	Cleveland	retirement
7	Benjamin Franklin Bledsoe	CA	1874–1938	1914–1925	—	—	Wilson	resignation
8	Oscar A. Trippet	CA	1856–1923	1915–1923	—	—	Wilson	death
9	William P. James	CA	1870–1940	1923–1940	—	—	Harding	death
10	Paul John McCormick	CA	1879–1960	1924–1951	1948–1951	1951–1960	Coolidge	death
11	Edward J. Henning	CA	1868–1937	1925–1929[Note 2]	—	—	Coolidge	resignation
12	George Cosgrave	CA	1870–1945	1930–1940	—	1940–1945	Hoover	death
13	Harry Aaron Hollzer	CA	1880–1946	1931–1946	—	—	Hoover	death
14	Albert Lee Stephens Sr.	CA	1874–1965	1935–1937	—	—	F. Roosevelt	elevation to 9th Cir.
15	Leon Rene Yankwich	CA	1888–1975	1935–1964	1951–1959	1964–1966	F. Roosevelt	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
16	Ralph E. Jenney	CA	1883–1945	1937–1945	—	—	F. Roosevelt	death
17	Campbell E. Beaumont	CA	1883–1954	1939–1954	—	—	F. Roosevelt	death
18	Benjamin Harrison	CA	1888–1960	1940–1960	1959–1959	—	F. Roosevelt	death
19	James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor	CA	1886–1949	1940–1949	—	—	F. Roosevelt	death
20	Peirson Mitchell Hall	CA	1894–1979	1942–1966	1959–1964	—	F. Roosevelt	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
21	William Carey Mathes	CA	1899–1967	1945–1965	1964–1965	1965–1967	Truman	death
22	Jacob Weinberger	CA	1882–1974	1946–1958	—	1958–1974	Truman	death
23	James Marshall Carter	CA	1904–1979	1949–1967	1966–1967	—	Truman	elevation to 9th Cir.
24	Harry Clay Westover	CA	1894–1983	1949–1965	—	1965–1983	Truman	death
25	William Matthew Byrne Sr.	CA	1896–1974	1950–1966[Note 3]	1965–1966	1966	Truman	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
26	Ernest Allen Tolin	CA	1904–1961	1951–1961[Note 4]	—	—	Truman	death
27	Gilbert H. Jertberg	CA	1897–1973	1955–1958	—	—	Eisenhower	elevation to 9th Cir.
28	Thurmond Clarke	CA	1902–1971	1955–1966	1966	—	Eisenhower	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
29	Fred Kunzel	CA	1901–1969	1959–1969	1967–1969	—	Eisenhower	death
30	Myron Donovan Crocker	CA	1915–2010	1959–1966	—	—	Eisenhower	reassignment to E.D. Cal.
31	Albert Lee Stephens Jr.	CA	1913–2001	1961–1966	—	—	Kennedy	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
32	Charles Hardy Carr	CA	1903–1976	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
33	Jesse William Curtis Jr.	CA	1905–2008	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
34	Elisha Avery Crary	CA	1905–1978	1962–1966	—	—	Kennedy	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
35	Francis C. Whelan	CA	1907–1991	1964–1966	—	—	L. Johnson	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
36	Irving Hill	CA	1915–1998	1965–1966	—	—	L. Johnson	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
37	A. Andrew Hauk	CA	1912–2004	1966	—	—	L. Johnson	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
38	William Percival Gray	CA	1912–1992	1966	—	—	L. Johnson	reassignment to C.D. Cal.
39	Edward Joseph Schwartz	CA	1912–2000	1968–1982	1969–1982	1982–2000	L. Johnson	death
40	Howard Boyd Turrentine	CA	1914–2010	1970–1984	1982–1984	1984–2010	Nixon	death
41	Gordon Thompson Jr.	CA	1929–2015	1970–1994	1984–1991	1994–2015	Nixon	death
42	J. Clifford Wallace	CA	1928–present	1970–1972	—	—	Nixon	elevation to 9th Cir.
43	Leland Chris Nielsen	CA	1919–1999	1971–1985	—	1985–1999	Nixon	death
44	William Benner Enright	CA	1925–2020	1972–1990	—	1990–2020	Nixon	death
45	Judith Keep	CA	1944–2004	1980–2004	1991–1998	—	Carter	death
46	Earl Ben Gilliam	CA	1931–2001	1980–1993	—	1993–2001	Carter	death
47	J. Lawrence Irving	CA	1935–present	1982–1990	—	—	Reagan	resignation
48	Rudi M. Brewster	CA	1932–2012	1984–1998	—	1998–2012	Reagan	death
49	John Skylstead Rhoades Sr.	CA	1925–2007	1985–1995	—	1995–2007	Reagan	death
51	Irma Elsa Gonzalez	CA	1948–present	1992–2013	2005–2012	2013	G.H.W. Bush	retirement
52	Napoleon A. Jones Jr.	CA	1940–2009	1994–2007	—	2007–2009	Clinton	death
57	Larry Alan Burns	CA	1954–present	2003–2021	2019–2021	2021–2024	G.W. Bush	retirement

1. Jointly appointed to the Northern and Southern Districts of California.
2. Recess appointment; formally nominated on December 8, 1925, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 15, 1925, and received commission on December 15, 1925.
3. Recess appointment; formally nominated on November 27, 1950, confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 1950, and received commission on December 21, 1950.
4. Recess appointment; formally nominated on March 3, 1952, confirmed by the Senate on June 10, 1952, and received commission on June 11, 1952.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

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 reestablished 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 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 2011–2021 Simmons Jr. 2023–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 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 1991–2016 Robinson 2020–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 2012–2023 vacant 2023–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 2008–2018 Huie 2022–present

Seat 20 Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 Moskowitz 1995–2019 Ohta 2021–present

Seat 21 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Burns 2003–2021 Schopler 2023–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 2003–2021 vacant 2021–present

Seat 24 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Houston 2003–2018 Montenegro 2022–present

Seat 25 Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 Benitez 2004–2017 Lopez 2021–present

List of U.S. attorneys

The U.S. Attorney is the chief law-enforcement officer for the district.^[4][5]

• J. M. Jones (1850)
• Alfred Wheeler (1851–1853)
• Isaac S. K. Ogier (1853–1854)
• Pacificus Ord (1854–1858)
• J. R. Gitchell (1858–1861)
• Kimball H. Dimmick (1861)
• Billington C. Whiting (1861)
• J. Marion Brooks (1887–1888)
• George J. Davis (1888–1889)
• Aurelius W. Hutton (1889–1890)
• Willoughby Cole (1890–1892)
• Matthew J. Allen (1892–1893)
• George J. Denis (1893–1897)
• Frank P. Flint (1897–1901)
• L. H. Valentine (1901–1905)
• Oscar Lawler (1905–1909)
• Aloysuis McCormick (1909–1913)
• Albert Schoonover (1913–1917)
• John R. O'Connor (1917–1921)
• Joseph C. Burke (1921–1925)
• Samuel W. McNabb (1925–1933)
• John R. Layng (1933)
• Pierson M. Hall (1933–1937)
• Benjamin Harrison (1937–1940)
• William F. Palmer (1940–1942)
• Leo W. Silverstein (1942–1943)
• Charles H. Carr (1943–1946)
• James M. Carter (1946–1949)
• Ernest A. Tolin (1949–1951)
• Walter S. Binns (1951–1953)
• Laughlin E. Waters (1953–1961)
• Francis C. Whelan (1961–1964)
• Thomas R. Sheridan (1964)
• Manuel L. Real (1964–1966)
• Edwin L. Miller Jr. (1966–1969)
• Harry D. Steward (1969–1975)
• Terry J. Knoepp (1975–1977)
• Michael J. Walsh (1977–1980)
• M. James Lorenz (1980–1981)
• William H. Kennedy (1981–1982)
• Peter K. Nunez (1982–1988)
• William Braniff (1988–1993)^[6]
• Alan Bersin (1993-1998)^[7][8]
• Charles La Bella (1998-1999)
• Greg Vega (1999-2001)^[9]
• Patrick O’Toole (acting 2001-2002)^[10]
• Carol Lam (2002-2007)
• Karen Hewitt (2007-2010)
• Laura Duffy (2010-2017)
• Robert S. Brewer Jr. (2019-2021)
• Randy Grossman (2021-2023)^[11]
• Tara McGrath (2023-present)

See also

• Courts of California
• List of current United States district judges
• List of United States federal courthouses in California

References

1. "U.S. District Courts for the Districts of California: Legislative History". Retrieved July 2, 2010.
2. "Tara K. McGrath Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becomes Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in One of Nation's Busiest Districts" (Press release). San Diego, California: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
3. 28 U.S.C. § 84
4. Executive Office for United States Attorneys (1989). Bicentennial Celebration of United States Attorneys, 1789–1989 (PDF) (Report). Washington, District of Columbia: United States Department of Justice. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
5. "San Diego's Next U.S. Attorney". Voice of San Diego. December 29, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
6. Braniff, William (1993). "Local Discretion, Prosecutorial Choices and the Sentencing Guidelines". Federal Sentencing Reporter. 5 (6): 309–313. doi:10.2307/20639602. ISSN 1053-9867. JSTOR 20639602.
7. "Alan Bersin". LinkedIn. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
8. "Alan Bersin". CINA. August 29, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
9. FBA, San Diego (September 9, 2022). "Member Spotlight: Karen Hewitt". FBA San Diego. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
10. Moran, Greg (January 5, 2009). "Panels will screen U.S. attorney applicants". San Diego Union Tribute. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
11. Merken, Sara (November 7, 2023). "Ex-US attorney in Southern California to lead Manatt move into San Diego". Reuters. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

External links

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