United States District Court for the Northern District of California |
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(N.D. Cal.) |
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Appeals to: |
Ninth Circuit |
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Established: |
August 5, 1886 |
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Judges assigned: |
14 |
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Chief Judge: |
Phyllis Jean Hamilton |
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http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/ |
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
Vacancies and pending nominations
# |
Judge |
State |
Born–died |
Active service |
Chief Judge |
Senior status |
Appointed by |
Reason for termination |
1 |
Hoffman, Jr., OgdenOgden Hoffman, Jr. |
CA |
1822–1891 |
1851–1866 1886–1891 |
— |
— |
Fillmore, Fillmore |
reassignment death |
2 |
Morrow, William W.William W. Morrow |
CA |
1843–1929 |
1891[5]–1897 |
— |
— |
Harrison, Harrison |
reappointment |
3 |
Haven, John J. DeJohn J. De Haven |
CA |
1849–1913 |
1897–1913 |
— |
— |
McKinley, McKinley |
death |
4 |
Van Fleet, William CaryWilliam Cary Van Fleet |
CA |
1852–1923 |
1907–1923 |
— |
— |
Roosevelt, T.T. Roosevelt |
death |
5 |
Dooling, Maurice TimothyMaurice Timothy Dooling |
CA |
1860–1924 |
1913–1924 |
— |
— |
Wilson, Wilson |
death |
6 |
Partridge, John SlaterJohn Slater Partridge |
CA |
1870–1926 |
1923–1926 |
— |
— |
Harding, Harding |
death |
7 |
Kerrigan, Frank HenryFrank Henry Kerrigan |
CA |
1868–1935 |
1924–1935 |
— |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
death |
8 |
St. Sure, Adolphus FredericAdolphus Frederic St. Sure |
CA |
1869–1949 |
1925–1947 |
— |
1947–1949 |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
death |
9 |
Louderback, HaroldHarold Louderback |
CA |
1881–1941 |
1928–1941 |
— |
— |
Coolidge, Coolidge |
death |
10 |
Roche, Michael JosephMichael Joseph Roche |
CA |
1878–1964 |
1935–1958 |
1948–1958 |
1958–1964 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
11 |
Welsh, Martin IgnatiusMartin Ignatius Welsh |
CA |
1882–1953 |
1939–1946 |
— |
1946–1953 |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
12 |
Goodman, Louis EarlLouis Earl Goodman |
CA |
1892–1961 |
1942–1961 |
1958–1961 |
— |
Roosevelt, F.F. Roosevelt |
death |
13 |
Harris, George BernardGeorge Bernard Harris |
CA |
1901–1983 |
1946–1970 |
1961–1970 |
1970–1983 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
14 |
Lemmon, Dal MillingtonDal Millington Lemmon |
CA |
1887–1958 |
1947–1954 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
reappointment |
15 |
Erskine, Herbert WilsonHerbert Wilson Erskine |
CA |
1888–1951 |
1949–1951 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
16 |
Carter, Oliver JesseOliver Jesse Carter |
CA |
1911–1976 |
1950–1976 |
1970–1976 |
1976 |
Truman, Truman |
death |
17 |
Murphy, Edward PrestonEdward Preston Murphy |
CA |
1904–1958 |
1950–1958 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
death |
18 |
Friedman, Monroe MarkMonroe Mark Friedman |
CA |
1895–1978 |
1952–1953 |
— |
— |
Truman, Truman |
not confirmed[6] |
19 |
Hamlin, Jr., Oliver DevetaOliver Deveta Hamlin, Jr. |
CA |
1892–1973 |
1953–1958 |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
reappointment |
20 |
Halbert, SherrillSherrill Halbert |
CA |
1901–1991 |
1954–1966 |
— |
— |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
reassignment |
21 |
Wollenberg, Albert CharlesAlbert Charles Wollenberg |
CA |
1900–1981 |
1958–1975 |
— |
1975–1981 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
22 |
Burke, Lloyd HudsonLloyd Hudson Burke |
CA |
1916–1988 |
1958–1979 |
— |
1979–1988 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
23 |
Sweigert, William ThomasWilliam Thomas Sweigert |
CA |
1900–1983 |
1959–1973 |
— |
1973–1983 |
Eisenhower, Eisenhower |
death |
24 |
MacBride, Thomas JamisonThomas Jamison MacBride |
CA |
1914–2000 |
1961–1966 |
— |
— |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
reassignment |
25 |
Zirpoli, AlfonsoAlfonso Zirpoli |
CA |
1905–1995 |
1961–1975 |
— |
1975–1995 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
death |
26 |
Weigel, Stanley AlexanderStanley Alexander Weigel |
CA |
1905–1999 |
1962–1982 |
— |
1982–1997 |
Kennedy, Kennedy |
retirement |
27 |
Peckham, Robert FrancisRobert Francis Peckham |
CA |
1920–1993 |
1966–1988 |
1976–1988 |
1988–1993 |
Johnson, L.L. Johnson |
death |
28 |
Levin, Gerald SanfordGerald Sanford Levin |
CA |
1906–1971 |
1969–1971 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
29 |
Schnacke, Robert HowardRobert Howard Schnacke |
CA |
1913–1994 |
1970–1983 |
— |
1983–1994 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
30 |
Conti, SamuelSamuel Conti |
CA |
1922–present |
1970–1987 |
— |
1987–2015 |
Nixon, Nixon |
retirement |
31 |
Williams, Spencer MortimerSpencer Mortimer Williams |
CA |
1922–2008 |
1971–1987 |
— |
1987–2008 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
32 |
Renfrew, Charles ByronCharles Byron Renfrew |
CA |
1928–present |
1971–1980 |
— |
— |
Nixon, Nixon |
resignation |
33 |
Orrick, Jr., William HorsleyWilliam Horsley Orrick, Jr. |
CA |
1915–2003 |
1974–1985 |
— |
1985–2003 |
Nixon, Nixon |
death |
34 |
Ingram, William AustinWilliam 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 PeterRobert Peter Aguilar |
CA |
1931–present |
1980–1996 |
— |
1996 |
Carter, Carter |
retirement |
39 |
Hall Patel, MarilynMarilyn 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, D. LowellD. 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, VaughnVaughn Walker |
CA |
1944–present |
1989–2011 |
2004–2010 |
— |
G.H.W. Bush |
retirement |
46 |
Ware, W. JamesW. 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, MartinMartin 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 | 1958–1979 |
Seat abolished in 1979 (temporary judgeship expired) |
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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 |
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Seat 5 |
Seat established on June 15, 1946 by 60 Stat. 260 |
Harris | 1946–1970 |
Schnacke | 1970–1983 |
Legge | 1984–2001 |
White | 2002–present |
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Seat 6 |
Seat established on August 3, 1949 by 63 Stat. 493 |
Carter | 1950–1976 |
Poole | 1976–1980 |
Henderson | 1980–1998 |
Alsup | 1999–present |
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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 |
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Seat 10 |
Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 |
Peckham | 1966–1988 |
Ware | 1990–2012 |
Donato | 2014–present |
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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 |
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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) |
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Seat 13 |
Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 |
Williams | 1971–1987 |
Walker | 1989–2011 |
Rogers | 2011–present |
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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) |
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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 |
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Seat 16 |
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Whyte | 1992–2009 |
Koh | 2010–present |
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Seat 17 |
Seat established on December 1, 1990 by 104 Stat. 5089 |
Wilken | 1993–2014 |
Gilliam, Jr. | 2014–present |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. Brian Stretch was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California on March 30, 2016.
See also
Notes
External links
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