United States District Court for the Central District of California
(C.D. Cal.)
Map
Divisions of the CDCA: Eastern Division in yellow, Southern Division in red, Western Division in blue
Appeals to
Ninth Circuit
Established
September 18, 1966
Judges assigned
28
Chief judge
George H. King
Official site
The United States District Court for the Central District of California (in case citations , C.D. Cal. ; commonly referred to as the CDCA or CACD ) serves over 19 million people in Southern and Central California, making it the most populous federal judicial district.[ 1] The district was created on September 18, 1966.
Cases from the Central District are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the United States 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.[ 2] The boundary line was at the 37th parallel of North Latitude.[ 3] 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.[ 2] [ 3] Twenty years later, on August 5, 1886, Congress re-created the Southern District of California by 24 Stat. 308,[ 3] but it was not until March 18, 1966, that the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75.[ 2]
Divisions
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California is divided into three divisions, with jurisdiction over seven counties: Riverside , San Bernardino , Orange , Los Angeles , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , and Ventura .
The Eastern Division covers Riverside and San Bernardino Counties at the Riverside courthouse.
The Southern Division covers Orange County from the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and Courthouse in Santa Ana .
The Western Division covers Los Angeles , San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , and Ventura Counties. Cases are heard in two courthouses in downtown Los Angeles, the older Spring Street Courthouse and the newer Edward R. Roybal Courthouse .
U.S. Attorney
The United States Attorney for the Central District represents the United States Government in civil and criminal cases before the court. Eileen Maura Decker is the current U.S. Attorney, being confirmed by the Senate on June 11, 2015.
Current district judges
Vacancies and pending nominations
Former district judges
#
Judge
State
Born/Died
Active service
Chief Judge
Senior status
Appointed by
Reason for
termination
—
Yankwich, Leon Rene Leon Rene Yankwich
CA
1888–1975
—
—
1966[ 4] –1975
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
—
Byrne, Sr., William Matthew William Matthew Byrne, Sr.
CA
1896–1974
—
—
1966[ 5] –1974
Truman, Truman
death
1
Hall, Peirson Mitchell Peirson Mitchell Hall
CA
1894–1979
1966[ 6] –1968
—
1968–1979
Roosevelt, F. F. Roosevelt
death
2
Clarke, Thurmond Thurmond Clarke
CA
1902–1971
1966[ 7] –1970
1966–1970
1970–1971
Eisenhower, Eisenhower
death
3
Stephens, Jr., Albert Lee Albert Lee Stephens, Jr.
CA
1913–2001
1966[ 8] –1979
1970–1979
1979–2001
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
4
Carr, Charles Hardy Charles Hardy Carr
CA
1903–1976
1966[ 9] –1973
—
1973–1976
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
5
Curtis, Jr., Jesse William Jesse William Curtis, Jr.
CA
1905–2008
1966[ 9] –1975
—
1975–1990
Kennedy, Kennedy
retirement
6
Crary, Elisha Avery Elisha Avery Crary
CA
1905–1978
1966[ 9] –1975
—
1975–1978
Kennedy, Kennedy
death
7
Whelan, Francis C. Francis C. Whelan
CA
1907–1991
1966[ 10] –1978
—
1978–1991
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
8
Hill, Irving Irving Hill
CA
1915–1998
1966[ 10] –1980
1979–1980
1980–1998
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
9
Andrew Hauk, A. A. Andrew Hauk
CA
1912–2004
1966[ 11] –1982
1980–1982
1982–2004
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
10
Gray, William Percival William Percival Gray
CA
1912–1992
1966[ 11] –1982
—
1982–1992
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
death
11
Ferguson, Warren J. Warren J. Ferguson
CA
1920–2008
1966–1979
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
reappointment
13
Pregerson, Harry Harry Pregerson
CA
1923–present
1967–1979
—
—
Johnson, L. L. Johnson
reappointment
14
Williams, David W. David W. Williams
CA
1910–2000
1969–1981
—
1981–2000
Nixon, Nixon
death
15
Kelleher, Robert J. Robert J. Kelleher
CA
1913–2012
1970–1983
—
1983–2012
Nixon
death
16
Byrne, Jr., William Matthew William Matthew Byrne, Jr.
CA
1930–2006
1971–1998
1994–1998
1998–2006
Nixon, Nixon
death
17
Lucas, Malcolm M. Malcolm M. Lucas
CA
1927–present
1971–1984
—
—
Nixon, Nixon
resignation
18
Lydick, Lawrence Tupper Lawrence Tupper Lydick
CA
1916–1995
1971–1984
—
1984–1995
Nixon, Nixon
death
19
Firth, Robert Robert Firth
CA
1918–1984
1974–1979
—
1979–1984
Nixon, Nixon
death
20
Takasugi, Robert Mitsuhiro Robert Mitsuhiro Takasugi
CA
1930–2009
1976–1996
—
1996–2009
Ford, Ford
death
21
Waters, Sr., Laughlin Edward Laughlin Edward Waters, Sr.
CA
1914–2002
1976–1986
—
1986–2002
Ford, Ford
death
22
Pfaelzer, Mariana Mariana Pfaelzer
CA
1926–2015
1978–1997
—
1997–2015
Carter, Carter
death
24
Tashima, A. Wallace A. Wallace Tashima
CA
1934–present
1980–1996
—
—
Carter, Carter
reappointment
25
Kenyon, David Vreeland David Vreeland Kenyon
CA
1930–2015
1980–1995
—
1995–1997
Carter, Carter
retirement
27
Hall, Cynthia Holcomb Cynthia Holcomb Hall
CA
1929–2011
1981–1984
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
reappointment
28
Gadbois, Jr., Richard Arthur Richard Arthur Gadbois, Jr.
CA
1932–1996
1982–1996
—
1996
Reagan, Reagan
death
29
Rafeedie, Edward Edward Rafeedie
CA
1929–2008
1982–1996
—
1996–2008
Reagan, Reagan
death
30
Rymer, Pamela Ann Pamela Ann Rymer
CA
1941–2011
1983–1989
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
reappointment
31
Hupp, Harry Lindley Harry Lindley Hupp
CA
1929–2004
1984–1997
—
1997–2004
Reagan, Reagan
death
32
Stotler, Alicemarie Huber Alicemarie Huber Stotler
CA
1942–2014
1984–2009
2005–2009
2009–2014
Reagan, Reagan
death
33
Ideman, James M. James M. Ideman
CA
1931–present
1984–1998
—
1998
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
34
Rea, William J. William J. Rea
CA
1920–2005
1984–1998
—
1998–2005
Reagan, Reagan
death
36
Fernandez, Ferdinand Francis Ferdinand Francis Fernandez
CA
1937–present
1985–1989
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
reappointment
38
Letts, John Spencer John Spencer Letts
CA
1934–2014
1985–2000
—
2000–2014
Reagan, Reagan
death
39
Tevrizian, Jr., Dickran M. Dickran M. Tevrizian, Jr.
CA
1940–present
1985–2005
—
2005–2007
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
40
Davies, John John Davies
CA
1929–present
1986–1998
—
—
Reagan, Reagan
retirement
42
Bonner, Robert C. Robert C. Bonner
CA
1942–present
1989–1990
—
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
resignation
43
Taylor, Gary L. Gary L. Taylor
CA
1938–present
1990–2004
—
2004–2005
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
retirement
44
Baird, Lourdes Gillespie Lourdes Gillespie Baird
CA
1935–present
1992–2004
—
2004–2005
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
retirement
45
McLaughlin, Linda Hodge Linda Hodge McLaughlin
CA
1942–1999
1992–1999
—
—
Bush, G.H.W. G.H.W. Bush
death
46
Collins, Audrey B. Audrey B. Collins
CA
1945–present
1994–2014
2009–2012
—
Clinton
retirement
47
Paez, Richard Richard Paez
CA
1947–present
1994–2000
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
reappointment
50
Wardlaw, Kim McLane Kim McLane Wardlaw
CA
1954–present
1995–1998
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
reappointment
53
Moreno, Carlos R. Carlos R. Moreno
CA
1948–present
1998–2001
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
resignation
54
Morrow, Margaret M. Margaret M. Morrow
CA
1950–present
1998–2015
—
2015–2016
Clinton, Clinton
retirement
55
Matz, Howard Howard Matz
CA
1943–present
1998–2011
—
2011–2013
Clinton, Clinton
retirement
57
Manella, Nora Margaret Nora Margaret Manella
CA
1951–present
1998–2006
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
resignation
58
Feess, Gary Allen Gary Allen Feess
CA
1948–present
1999–2014
—
2014–2015
Clinton, Clinton
retirement
59
Cooper, Florence-Marie Florence-Marie Cooper
CA
1940–2010
1999–2010
—
—
Clinton, Clinton
death
68
Schiavelli, George P. George P. Schiavelli
CA
1948–present
2004–2008
—
—
Bush, G.W. G.W. Bush
resignation
69
Larson, Stephen G. Stephen G. Larson
CA
1964–present
2006–2009
—
—
Bush, G.W. G.W. Bush
resignation
75
Nguyen, Jacqueline Jacqueline Nguyen
CA
1965–present
2009–2012
—
—
Obama, Obama
reappointment
Succession of seats
Seat 1
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
P. Hall
1966–1968
Williams
1969–1981
Rafeedie
1982–1996
Snyder
1997–present
Seat 2
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Clarke
1966–1970
Lydick
1971–1984
Ideman
1984–1998
Feess
1999–2014
Birotte
2014–present
Seat 4
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Carr
1966–1973
Firth
1974–1979
Marshall
1980–2005
Fairbank
2007–2012
O'Connell
2013–present
Seat 5
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Curtis, Jr.
1966–1975
Waters, Sr.
1976–1986
Lew
1987–2006
Wu
2007–present
Seat 6
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Crary
1966–1975
Takasugi
1976–1996
Moreno
1998–2001
Carney
2003–present
Seat 7
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Whelan
1966–1978
Pfaelzer
1978–1997
Manella
1998–2006
Nguyen
2009–2012
Olguin
2013–present
Seat 8
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Hill
1966–1980
Gadbois, Jr.
1982–1996
Morrow
1998–2015
vacant
2015–present
Seat 9
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Hauk
1966–1982
Hupp
1984–1997
Matz
1998–2011
Fitzgerald
2012–present
Seat 10
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Gray
1966–1982
Rymer
1983–1989
Bonner
1989–1990
Collins
1994–2014
vacant
2014-present
Seat 12
Seat established on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
Real
1966–present
Seat 14
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Kelleher
1970–1983
Stotler
1984–2009
Tucker
2010–present
Seat 15
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Byrne
1971–1998
Phillips
1999–present
Seat 16
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
Lucas
1971–1984
Rea
1984–1998
Carter
1998–present
Seat 17
Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
Hatter, Jr.
1979–2005
Gutierrez
2007–present
Seat 18
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Keller
1984–1999
Klausner
2002–present
Seat 20
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Wilson
1985–present
Seat 21
Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
Letts
1985–2000
Selna
2003–present
Seat 23
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Baird
1992–2004
Schiavelli
2004–2008
Gee
2010–present
Seat 25
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Paez
1994–2000
Otero
2003–present
Seat 26
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
Timlin
1994–2005
Larson
2006–2009
Bernal
2012–present
Seat 27
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089
King
1995–present
Seat 28
Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 (temporary)
Fischer
2003–present
See also
Notes
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