Phyllis J. Hamilton

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Phyllis Jean Hamilton (born June 12, 1952)[1] is a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Phyllis J. Hamilton
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Assumed office
February 1, 2021
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office
December 17, 2014 – February 1, 2021
Preceded byClaudia Ann Wilken
Succeeded byRichard Seeborg
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office
May 25, 2000 – February 1, 2021
Appointed byBill Clinton
Preceded bySeat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Succeeded byTrina Thompson
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
In office
April 1991 – May 25, 2000
Personal details
Born (1952-06-12) June 12, 1952 (age 72)
Jacksonville, Illinois
SpouseStephen Q. Rowell
EducationStanford University (BA)
Santa Clara University (JD)

Education and career

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Born in Jacksonville, Illinois, Hamilton received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1974 and a cum laude Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1976.[2][3] She was a deputy public defender in the California Office of the Public Defender from 1976 to 1980,[2] and briefly served as a manager of EEO Programs for Farinon Electric Corporation in 1980.[4] She became an administrative judge for the San Francisco Regional Office of the United States Merit Systems Protection Board from 1980 to 1985, and was a court commissioner for the Municipal Court, Oakland-Piedmont-Emeryville Judicial District from 1985 to 1991. From 1991 to 2000, Hamilton was a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.[2]

Federal judicial service

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On February 9, 2000, Hamilton was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California created by 104 Stat. 5089 following the appointment of Fern M. Smith as Director of the Federal Judicial Center. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 24, 2000, and received her commission on May 25, 2000. She served as Chief Judge from December 17, 2014 until February 1, 2021 when she assumed senior status.[5] She was the first African-American Chief Judge in the Court's history.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Second Session, on Confirmation of Appointees to the Federal Judiciary, February 22, March 23, April 27, and May 10, 2000. U.S. Government Printing Office. 2001. p. 462.
  2. ^ a b c "Senior District Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton". United States District Court: Northern District of California. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton to Receive the 2023 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Ninth Circuit". Yahoo! Finance. July 24, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  4. ^ 2021 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit. p. 14. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Phyllis J. Hamilton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

Sources

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Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 104 Stat. 5089
Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
2000–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California
2014–2021
Succeeded by