United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California (in case citations, E.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 Eastern District of California
(E.D. Cal.)
LocationRobert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse
More locations
Appeals toNinth Circuit
EstablishedSeptember 18, 1966
Judges6
Chief JudgeKimberly J. Mueller
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyPhillip Talbert
U.S. MarshalLasha Boyden (acting)
www.caed.uscourts.gov

The District was created on March 18, 1966, with the division of the Northern and Southern districts, leading to the creation of the Central and Eastern districts.[1]

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of June 23, 2022 the United States attorney is Phillip Talbert.

Organization of the court edit

 
Yosemite Office of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California located in Yosemite National Park

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California is one of four federal judicial districts in California.[2] Court for the District is held at the Robert E. Coyle U.S. Courthouse in Fresno and Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento.

Current judges edit

As of February 7, 2024:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
20 Chief Judge Kimberly J. Mueller Sacramento 1957 2010–present 2020–present Obama
21 District Judge Troy L. Nunley Sacramento 1964 2013–present Obama
22 District Judge Dale A. Drozd Sacramento 1955 2015–present Obama
23 District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston Fresno 1967 2021–present Biden
25 District Judge Daniel Calabretta Sacramento 1978 2023–present Biden
26 District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff Fresno 1968 2024–present Biden
11 Senior Judge William B. Shubb Sacramento 1938 1990–2004 1996–2003 2004–present G.H.W. Bush
14 Senior Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. inactive 1947 1992–2012 2007–2008 2012–present G.H.W. Bush
15 Senior Judge Anthony W. Ishii inactive 1946 1997–2012 2008–2012 2012–present Clinton
17 Senior Judge Morrison C. England Jr. Sacramento 1954 2002–2019 2012–2016 2019–present G.W. Bush
18 Senior Judge Lawrence Joseph O'Neill inactive 1952 2007–2020 2016–2019 2020–present G.W. Bush
19 Senior Judge John Mendez Sacramento 1955 2008–2022 2022–present G.W. Bush


Vacancies and pending nominations edit

Seat Prior judge's duty station Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Date of nomination
2 Sacramento Kimberly J. Mueller Senior status September 17, 2024[3] Dena Michaela Coggins February 8, 2024

Former judges edit

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Myron Donovan Crocker CA 1915–2010 1966–1981[Note 1] 1966–1967 1981–2010 Eisenhower/Operation of law death
2 Sherrill Halbert CA 1901–1991 1966–1969[Note 1] 1969–1991 Eisenhower/Operation of law death
3 Thomas Jamison MacBride CA 1914–2000 1966–1979[Note 2] 1967–1979 1979–2000 Kennedy/Operation of law death
4 Philip Charles Wilkins CA 1913–1998 1969–1983 1979–1983 1983–1998 Nixon death
5 Lawrence K. Karlton CA 1935–2015 1979–2000 1983–1990 2000–2015 Carter death
6 Milton Lewis Schwartz CA 1920–2005 1979–1990 1990–2005 Carter death
7 Edward Dean Price CA 1919–1997 1979–1989 1989–1997 Carter death
8 Raul Anthony Ramirez CA 1944–present 1980–1989 Carter resignation
9 Robert Everett Coyle CA 1930–2012 1982–1996 1990–1996 1996–2012 Reagan death
10 Edward J. Garcia CA 1928–2023 1984–1996 1996–2023 Reagan death
12 David F. Levi CA 1951–present 1990–2007 2003–2007 G.H.W. Bush resignation
13 Oliver Winston Wanger CA 1940–present 1991–2006 2006–2011 G.H.W. Bush retirement
16 Frank C. Damrell Jr. CA 1938–present 1997–2008 2008–2011 Clinton retirement
24 Ana de Alba CA 1979–present 2022–2023 Biden elevation to 9th Cir.
  1. ^ a b Reassigned from the Southern District of California.
  2. ^ Reassigned from the Northern District of California.

Chief judges edit

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 edit

Request for expansion edit

The six sitting judges and three senior judges have submitted a draft letter[4] to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives from the Eastern District in which they argue that population growth in the district has necessitated an increase in the number of district judges.

See also edit

References edit

  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. ^ "Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
  4. ^ "The purpose of this letter … is to provide notice of a current crisis [In the Eastern District] | Central District Insider".

External links edit