The United States District Court for the Northern District of California (in case citations , N.D. Cal. ) is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California : Alameda , Contra Costa , Del Norte , Humboldt , Lake , Marin , Mendocino , Monterey , Napa , San Benito , San Francisco , San Mateo , Santa Clara , Santa Cruz , and Sonoma . The court hears cases in its courtrooms in Eureka , Oakland , San Francisco , and San Jose . It is headquartered in San Francisco.
Cases from the Northern District of California are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for 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 ).
History
California was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850, and was initially divided into two districts, the Northern and the Southern , by Act of Congress approved September 28, 1850, 9 Stat. 521.[ 1] The boundary line was at the 37th parallel of North Latitude.[ 2] The creating act provided that:
In addition to the ordinary jurisdiction and powers of a District Court of the United States, with which the Southern District Court of New York has been invested, the said Courts be and hereby are invested respectively within the limits of its district with the exercise of concurrent jurisdiction and power in all civil cases now exercised by the Circuit Courts of the United States; and that in all cases where said Courts shall exercise such jurisdiction, appeals may be taken from the judgments, orders or decrees of said Courts to the Supreme Court of the United States .
The Act of August 31, 1852 made the Judge of the Northern District be Judge of the Southern District as well until otherwise provided, by 10 Stat. 76, 84,[ 1] effectively creating a single District in all but name until an Act of January 18, 1854 provided for the appointment of a Judge for the Southern District.[ 2] The Southern District of California was abolished and the State made to constitute a single district – the United States District Court for the District of California – by Act of Congress approved July 27, 1866, 14 Stat. 300.[ 1] [ 2]
Twenty years later, on August 5, 1886, Congress re-created the Southern District of California by 24 Stat. 308.[ 2] Erskine M. Ross was appointed Judge of the new district and served until his promotion to the Circuit Judgeship, when he was succeeded by Olin Wellborn .[ 2] On March 18, 1966, the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75.[ 1]
Specialization
The court has become known as the presumptive destination for major cases (such as large class actions and multi-district litigation ) involving defendants based in East Asia and the high tech sector. [ 3]
Current judges
Former judges
#
Judge
State
Born/Died
Active service
Chief Judge
Senior status
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
1
Hoffman, Jr., Ogden Ogden Hoffman, Jr.
CA
1822–1891
1851–1866
1886–1891
—
—
Fillmore, Fillmore
reassignment
death
2
Morrow, William W. William W. Morrow
CA
1843–1929
1891[ 4] –1897
—
—
Harrison, Harrison
reappointment
3
Haven, John J. De John J. De Haven
CA
1849–1913
1897–1913
—
—
McKinley, McKinley
death
4
Van Fleet, William Cary William Cary Van Fleet
CA
1852–1923
1907–1923
—
—
Roosevelt, T. T. Roosevelt
death
5
Dooling, Maurice Timothy Maurice Timothy Dooling
CA
1860–1924
1913–1924
—
—
Wilson, Wilson
death
6
Partridge, John Slater John Slater Partridge
CA
1870–1926
1923–1926
—
—
Harding, Harding
death
7
Kerrigan, Frank Henry Frank Henry Kerrigan
CA
1868–1935
1924–1935
—
—
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
8
St. Sure, Adolphus Frederic Adolphus Frederic St. Sure
CA
1869–1949
1925–1947
—
1947–1949
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
9
Louderback, Harold Harold Louderback
CA
1881–1941
1928–1941
—
—
Coolidge, Coolidge
death
10
Roche, Michael Joseph Michael Joseph Roche
CA
1878–1964
1935–1958
1948–1958
1958–1964
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
11
Welsh, Martin Ignatius Martin Ignatius Welsh
CA
1882–1953
1939–1946
—
1946–1953
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
12
Goodman, Louis Earl Louis Earl Goodman
CA
1892–1961
1942–1961
1958–1961
—
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
13
Harris, George Bernard George Bernard Harris
CA
1901–1983
1946–1970
1961–1970
1970–1983
Truman, Truman
death
14
Lemmon, Dal Millington Dal Millington Lemmon
CA
1887–1958
1947–1954
—
—
Truman, Truman
reappointment
15
Erskine, Herbert Wilson Herbert Wilson Erskine
CA
1888–1951
1949–1951
—
—
Truman, Truman
death
16
Carter, Oliver Jesse Oliver Jesse Carter
CA
1911–1976
1950–1976
1970–1976
1976
Truman, Truman
death
17
Murphy, Edward Preston Edward Preston Murphy
CA
1904–1958
1950–1958
—
—
Truman, Truman
death
18
Friedman, Monroe Mark Monroe Mark Friedman
CA
1895–1978
1952–1953
—
—
Truman, Truman
not confirmed[ 5]
19
Hamlin, Jr., Oliver Deveta Oliver Deveta Hamlin, Jr.
CA
1892–1973
1953–1958
—
—
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
reappointment
20
Halbert, Sherrill Sherrill Halbert
CA
1901–1991
1954–1966
—
—
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
reassignment
21
Wollenberg, Albert Charles Albert Charles Wollenberg
CA
1900–1981
1958–1975
—
1975–1981
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
22
Burke, Lloyd Hudson Lloyd Hudson Burke
CA
1916–1988
1958–1979
—
1979–1988
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
23
Sweigert, William Thomas William Thomas Sweigert
CA
1900–1983
1959–1973
—
1973–1983
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
24
MacBride, Thomas Jamison Thomas Jamison MacBride
CA
1914–2000
1961–1966
—
—
Kennedy, Kennedy
reassignment
25
Zirpoli, Alfonso Joseph Alfonso Joseph Zirpoli
CA
1905–1995
1961–1975
—
1975–1995
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
26
Weigel, Stanley Alexander Stanley Alexander Weigel
CA
1905–1999
1962–1982
—
1982–1997
Kennedy, Kennedy
retirement
27
Peckham, Robert Francis Robert Francis Peckham
CA
1920–1993
1966–1988
1976–1988
1988–1993
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
28
Levin, Gerald Sanford Gerald Sanford Levin
CA
1906–1971
1969–1971
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
death
29
Schnacke, Robert Howard Robert Howard Schnacke
CA
1913–1994
1970–1983
—
1983–1994
Nixon, Nixon
death
31
Williams, Spencer Mortimer Spencer Mortimer Williams
CA
1922–2008
1971–1987
—
1987–2008
Nixon, Nixon
death
32
Renfrew, Charles Byron Charles Byron Renfrew
CA
1928–present
1971–1980
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
resignation
33
Orrick Jr., William Horsley William Horsley Orrick Jr.
CA
1915–2003
1974–1985
—
1985–2003
Nixon, Nixon
death
34
Ingram, William Austin William Austin Ingram
CA
1924–2002
1976–1990
1988–1990
1990–2002
Ford, Ford
death
35
Poole, Cecil F. Cecil F. Poole
CA
1914–1997
1976–1980
—
—
Ford, Ford
reappointment
37
Aguilar, Robert Peter Robert Peter Aguilar
CA
1931–present
1980–1996
—
1996
Carter, Carter
retirement
39
Hall Patel, Marilyn Marilyn Hall Patel
CA
1938–present
1980–2009
1997–2004
2009–2012
Carter
retirement
40
Lynch, Eugene F. Eugene F. Lynch
CA
1931–present
1982–1997
—
1997
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
41
Vukasin Jr., John P. John P. Vukasin Jr.
CA
1928–1993
1983–1993
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
death
42
Legge, Charles A. Charles A. Legge
CA
1930–present
1984–2001
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
43
Jensen, Delwen Lowell Delwen Lowell Jensen
CA
1928–present
1986–1997
—
1997–2014
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
44
Smith, Fern M. Fern M. Smith
CA
1933–present
1988–2003
—
2003–2005
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
45
Walker, Vaughn Vaughn Walker
CA
1944–present
1989–2011
2004–2010
—
G.H.W. Bush
retirement
46
Ware, James James Ware
CA
1946–present
1990–2012
2011–2012
—
G.H.W. Bush
retirement
48
Caulfield, Barbara A. Barbara A. Caulfield
CA
1947–2010
1991–1994
—
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
resignation
54
Jenkins, Martin Martin Jenkins
CA
1954–present
1997–2008
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
resignation
Succession of seats
Seat 1
Seat established on September 28, 1850 by 9 Stat. 521
Hoffman, Jr.
1851–1866
Seat made concurrent with Southern District on August 31, 1852 by 10 Stat. 76, 84
Seat reassigned solely to Northern District on January 18, 1854 by 10 Stat. 265
Seat reassigned to District of California on July 27, 1866 by 14 Stat. 300
Seat reassigned to Northern District on August 5, 1886 by 24 Stat. 308
Hoffman, Jr.
1886–1891
Morrow
1891–1897
DeHaven
1897–1913
Dooling
1913–1924
St. Sure
1925–1947
Erskine
1949–1951
Friedman
1952–1953
Hamlin, Jr.
1953–1958
Burke
1958–1988
Seat abolished on March 15, 1988 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 2
Seat established on March 2, 1907 by 34 Stat. 1253
Van Fleet
1907–1923
Kerrigan
1924–1935
Roche
1935–1958
Wollenberg
1958–1975
Schwarzer
1976–1991
Caulfield
1991–1994
Illston
1995–2013
Chhabria
2014–present
Seat 3
Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary)
Partridge
1923–1926
Seat made permanent on March 3, 1927 by 44 Stat. 1372
Louderback
1928–1941
Goodman
1942–1961
Weigel
1962–1982
Vukasin, Jr.
1983–1993
Chesney
1995–2009
Seeborg
2010–present
Seat 4
Seat established on May 31, 1938 by 52 Stat. 584, 585
Welsh
1939–1947
Lemmon
1947–1954
Halbert
1954–1966
Seat reassigned to Eastern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Seat 5
Seat established on June 15, 1946 by 60 Stat. 260
Harris
1946–1970
Schnacke
1970–1983
Legge
1984–2001
White
2002–present
Seat 6
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
Carter
1950–1976
Poole
1976–1980
Henderson
1980–1998
Alsup
1999–present
Seat 7
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493
Murphy
1950–1958
Sweigert
1959–1973
W.H. Orrick, Jr.
1974–1985
Jensen
1986–1997
Breyer
1997–2011
W.H. Orrick III
2013–present
Seat 8
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
MacBride
1961–1966
Seat reassigned to Eastern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Seat 9
Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
Zirpoli
1961–1975
Ingram
1976–1990
Armstrong
1991–2012
Tigar
2013–present
Seat 10
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Peckham
1966–1988
Ware
1990–2012
Donato
2014–present
Seat 11
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Levin
1969–1971
Renfrew
1971–1980
Lynch
1982–1997
Jenkins
1997–2008
Chen
2011–present
Seat 12
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Conti
1970–1987
Smith
1988–2003
Seat abolished on May 15, 2003 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 13
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Williams
1971–1987
Walker
1989–2011
Rogers
2011–present
Seat 14
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Aguilar
1980–1996
Fogel
1998–2014
Seat abolished on December 31, 2014 (temporary judgeship expired)
Seat 15
Seat established in 1979 pursuant to 71 Stat. 586 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 1 on March 15, 1988
Patel
1980–2009
Davila
2011–present
Seat 16
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Whyte
1992–2009
Koh
2010–present
Seat 17
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Wilken
1993–2014
Gilliam, Jr.
2014–present
Seat 18
Seat established on February 9, 2000 pursuant to 104 Stat. 5089 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 12 on May 15, 2003
Hamilton
2000–present
Seat 19
Seat established on October 3, 2011 pursuant to 104 Stat. 5089 (temporary)
Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 14 on December 31, 2014
Freeman
2014–present
United States Attorney
The United States Attorney for the Northern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. Melinda Haag was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California on March 25, 2010, confirmed by the Senate on August 5, and sworn in on August 13, 2010.
See also
Notes
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