United States District Court for the Northern District of California | |
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(N.D. Cal.) | |
Location | Phillip Burton Federal Building More locations |
Appeals to | Ninth Circuit |
Established | August 5, 1886 |
Judges | 14 |
Chief Judge | Richard Seeborg |
Officers of the court | |
U.S. Attorney | Ismail Ramsey |
U.S. Marshal | Mark Kolc (acting) |
www |
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 the 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).
Because it covers San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the Northern District of California has become known as the presumptive destination for major federal lawsuits (such as large class actions and multi-district litigation) involving defendants based in East Asia and the high tech sector. [1] These cases usually involve patent law and intellectual property law (such as copyright law and DMCA issues as well as trademark law and trade secret law) - especially in the semiconductor, telecommunications and software industries and other high technology areas, antitrust law, securities law, and technology law in general (e.g., cybersecurity, Internet law, computer law and cases involving software).
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 creating act provided that:
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, [2] 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. [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] 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. [3] On March 18, 1966, the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75. [2]
As of March 20,2024: [update]
# | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Appointed by | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Active | Chief | Senior | ||||||
59 | Chief Judge | Richard Seeborg | San Francisco | 1956 | 2010–present | 2021–present | — | Obama |
61 | District Judge | Edward Davila | San Jose | 1952 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
63 | District Judge | Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers | Oakland | 1965 | 2011–present | — | — | Obama |
64 | District Judge | Jon S. Tigar | Oakland | 1962 | 2013–present | — | — | Obama |
66 | District Judge | James Donato | San Francisco | 1960 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
67 | District Judge | Beth Labson Freeman | San Jose | 1953 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
68 | District Judge | Vince Chhabria | San Francisco | 1969 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
69 | District Judge | Haywood Gilliam | Oakland | 1969 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
70 | District Judge | Jacqueline Scott Corley | San Francisco | 1966 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
71 | District Judge | Trina Thompson | San Francisco | 1961 | 2022–present | — | — | Biden |
72 | District Judge | Araceli Martínez-Olguín | San Francisco | 1977 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
73 | District Judge | P. Casey Pitts | San Jose | 1980 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
74 | District Judge | Rita F. Lin | San Francisco | 1978 | 2023–present | — | — | Biden |
75 | District Judge | Eumi K. Lee | San Jose | 1972 | beg. 2024 | — | — | Biden |
38 | Senior Judge | Thelton Henderson | inactive | 1933 | 1980–1998 | 1990–1997 | 1998–present | Carter |
47 | Senior Judge | Saundra Brown Armstrong | Oakland | 1947 | 1991–2012 | — | 2012–present | G.H.W. Bush |
50 | Senior Judge | Claudia Ann Wilken | Oakland | 1949 | 1993–2014 | 2012–2014 | 2014–present | Clinton |
51 | Senior Judge | Maxine M. Chesney | San Francisco | 1942 | 1995–2009 | — | 2009–present | Clinton |
52 | Senior Judge | Susan Illston | San Francisco | 1948 | 1995–2013 | — | 2013–present | Clinton |
53 | Senior Judge | Charles Breyer | San Francisco | 1941 | 1997–2011 | — | 2011–present | Clinton |
56 | Senior Judge | William Alsup | San Francisco | 1945 | 1999–2021 | — | 2021–present | Clinton |
57 | Senior Judge | Phyllis J. Hamilton | Oakland | 1952 | 2000–2021 | 2014–2021 | 2021–present | Clinton |
58 | Senior Judge | Jeffrey White | Oakland | 1945 | 2002–2021 | — | 2021–present | G.W. Bush |
62 | Senior Judge | Edward M. Chen | San Francisco | 1953 | 2011–2022 | — | 2022–present | Obama |
65 | Senior Judge | William Orrick III | San Francisco | 1953 | 2013–2023 | — | 2023–present | Obama |
Seat | Prior judge's duty station | Seat last held by | Vacancy reason | Date of vacancy | Nominee | Date of nomination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 | San Jose | Edward Davila | Senior status | TBD [4] | – | – |
# | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ogden Hoffman Jr. | CA | 1822–1891 | 1851–1866 [Note 1] 1886–1891 [Note 2] | — | — | Fillmore Operation of law | reassignment to D. Cal. death |
2 | William W. Morrow | CA | 1843–1929 | 1891–1897 [Note 3] | — | — | B. Harrison | elevation to 9th Cir. |
3 | John J. De Haven | CA | 1849–1913 | 1897–1913 | — | — | McKinley | death |
4 | William Cary Van Fleet | CA | 1852–1923 | 1907–1923 [Note 4] | — | — | T. Roosevelt | death |
5 | Maurice Timothy Dooling | CA | 1860–1924 | 1913–1924 | — | — | Wilson | death |
6 | John Slater Partridge | CA | 1870–1926 | 1923–1926 | — | — | Harding | death |
7 | Frank Henry Kerrigan | CA | 1868–1935 | 1924–1935 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
8 | Adolphus Frederic St. Sure | CA | 1869–1949 | 1925–1947 | — | 1947–1949 | Coolidge | death |
9 | Harold Louderback | CA | 1881–1941 | 1928–1941 | — | — | Coolidge | death |
10 | Michael Joseph Roche | CA | 1878–1964 | 1935–1958 | 1948–1958 | 1958–1964 | F. Roosevelt | death |
11 | Martin Ignatius Welsh | CA | 1882–1953 | 1939–1947 | — | 1947–1953 | F. Roosevelt | death |
12 | Louis Earl Goodman | CA | 1892–1961 | 1942–1961 | 1958–1961 | — | F. Roosevelt | death |
13 | George Bernard Harris | CA | 1901–1983 | 1946–1970 | 1961–1970 | 1970–1983 | Truman | death |
14 | Dal Millington Lemmon | CA | 1887–1958 | 1947–1954 | — | — | Truman | elevation to 9th Cir. |
15 | Herbert Wilson Erskine | CA | 1888–1951 | 1949–1951 | — | — | Truman | death |
16 | Oliver Jesse Carter | CA | 1911–1976 | 1950–1976 | 1970–1976 | 1976 | Truman | death |
17 | Edward Preston Murphy | CA | 1904–1958 | 1950–1958 | — | — | Truman | death |
18 | Monroe Mark Friedman | CA | 1895–1978 | 1952–1953 [Note 5] | — | — | Truman | not confirmed |
19 | Oliver Deveta Hamlin Jr. | CA | 1892–1973 | 1953–1958 | — | — | Eisenhower | elevation to 9th Cir. |
20 | Sherrill Halbert | CA | 1901–1991 | 1954–1966 | — | — | Eisenhower | reassignment to E.D. Cal. |
21 | Albert Charles Wollenberg | CA | 1900–1981 | 1958–1975 | — | 1975–1981 | Eisenhower | death |
22 | Lloyd Hudson Burke | CA | 1916–1988 | 1958–1988 | — | — | Eisenhower | death |
23 | William Thomas Sweigert | CA | 1900–1983 | 1959–1973 | — | 1973–1983 | Eisenhower | death |
24 | Thomas Jamison MacBride | CA | 1914–2000 | 1961–1966 | — | — | Kennedy | reassignment to E.D. Cal. |
25 | Alfonso Zirpoli | CA | 1905–1995 | 1961–1975 | — | 1975–1995 | Kennedy | death |
26 | Stanley Alexander Weigel | CA | 1905–1999 | 1962–1982 | — | 1982–1997 | Kennedy | retirement |
27 | Robert Francis Peckham | CA | 1920–1993 | 1966–1988 | 1976–1988 | 1988–1993 | L. Johnson | death |
28 | Gerald Sanford Levin | CA | 1906–1971 | 1969–1971 | — | — | Nixon | death |
29 | Robert Howard Schnacke | CA | 1913–1994 | 1970–1983 | — | 1983–1994 | Nixon | death |
30 | Samuel Conti | CA | 1922–2018 | 1970–1987 | — | 1987–2018 | Nixon | death |
31 | Spencer Mortimer Williams | CA | 1922–2008 | 1971–1987 | — | 1987–2008 | Nixon | death |
32 | Charles Byron Renfrew | CA | 1928–2017 | 1971–1980 | — | — | Nixon | resignation |
33 | William H. Orrick Jr. | CA | 1915–2003 | 1974–1985 | — | 1985–2003 | Nixon | death |
34 | William Austin Ingram | CA | 1924–2002 | 1976–1990 | 1988–1990 | 1990–2002 | Ford | death |
35 | Cecil F. Poole | CA | 1914–1997 | 1976–1980 | — | — | Ford | elevation to 9th Cir. |
36 | William Schwarzer | CA | 1925–2017 | 1976–1991 | — | 1991–2017 | Ford | death |
37 | Robert Peter Aguilar | CA | 1931–2020 | 1980–1996 | — | 1996–1996 | Carter | retirement |
39 | Marilyn Hall Patel | CA | 1938–present | 1980–2009 | 1997–2004 | 2009–2012 | Carter | retirement |
40 | Eugene F. Lynch | CA | 1931–2019 | 1982–1997 | — | 1997–1997 | Reagan | retirement |
41 | John P. Vukasin Jr. | CA | 1928–1993 | 1983–1993 | — | — | Reagan | death |
42 | Charles A. Legge | CA | 1930–2023 | 1984–2001 | — | — | Reagan | retirement |
43 | D. Lowell Jensen | CA | 1928–present | 1986–1997 | — | 1997–2014 | Reagan | retirement |
44 | Fern M. Smith | CA | 1933–present | 1988–2003 | — | 2003–2005 | Reagan | retirement |
45 | Vaughn Walker | CA | 1944–present | 1989–2011 | 2004–2010 | — | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
46 | James Ware | CA | 1946–present | 1990–2012 | 2010–2012 | — | G.H.W. Bush | retirement |
48 | Barbara A. Caulfield | CA | 1947–2010 | 1991–1994 | — | — | G.H.W. Bush | resignation |
49 | Ronald Whyte | CA | 1942–2023 | 1992–2009 | — | 2009–2023 | G.H.W. Bush | death |
54 | Martin Jenkins | CA | 1953–present | 1997–2008 | — | — | Clinton | resignation |
55 | Jeremy Fogel | CA | 1949–present | 1998–2014 | — | 2014–2018 | Clinton | retirement |
60 | Lucy Koh | CA | 1968–present | 2010–2021 | — | — | Obama | elevation to 9th Cir. |
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.
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The United States Attorney for the Northern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of March 21,2023 [update] the United States attorney is Ismail Ramsey.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is the U.S. federal court of appeals that has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is the U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the courts in the following districts:
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal trial court whose geographic jurisdiction encompasses eight counties of the State of New York. Two of these are in New York City: New York (Manhattan) and Bronx; six are in the Hudson Valley: Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York serves one of the 94 judicial districts in the United States and one of four in the state of New York. Appeals from the Northern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which has jurisdiction over the four districts of New York, the District of Connecticut and the District of Vermont. The U.S. attorney for the district is Carla B. Freedman since October 8, 2021.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is a federal court in the Ninth Circuit.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with territorial jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the federal trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois.
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Rhode Island. The District Court was created in 1790 when Rhode Island ratified the Constitution. The Federal Courthouse was built in 1908.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a federal district court covering approximately the southern third of the state of Illinois.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is a United States district court which serves the residents of forty-six counties. These are divided up into four divisions.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia is a United States district court which serves the residents of seventy counties from five divisions from its headquarters in Macon, Georgia.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio is the federal trial court for the northern half of Ohio, encompassing most territories north of the city of Columbus. The court has courthouses in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio is one of two United States district courts in Ohio and includes forty-eight of the state's eighty-eight counties—everything from the Columbus area southward. Appeals from the court are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit at Cincinnati.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is the federal district court with jurisdiction over of the eastern half of the Lower Peninsula of the State of Michigan. The Court is based in Detroit, with courthouses also located in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Flint, and Port Huron. The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has appellate jurisdiction over the court.
The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan is the federal district court with jurisdiction over the western portion of the state of Michigan, including the entire Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula from Lansing westward.
The United States District Court for the District of Idaho is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Idaho. Court is held in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, and Pocatello. Cases from the District of Idaho are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee is the federal court in the Sixth Circuit whose jurisdiction covers most of East Tennessee and a portion of Middle Tennessee. The court has jurisdiction over 41 counties with 4 divisions. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, it maintains branch facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greeneville, Tennessee; and Winchester, Tennessee.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa has jurisdiction over forty-seven of Iowa's ninety-nine counties. It is subject to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.