United States District Court for the Central District of California
Summary
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) is a federal trial court that 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). Along with the Central District of Illinois, the court is the only district court referred to by the name "Central" – all other courts with similar geographical names instead use the term "Middle."
United States District Court for the Central District of California
(C.D. Cal.)
Divisions of the Central District of California : Eastern (yellow), Southern (red), and Western (blue)
California was admitted to the union on September 9, 1850, and was divided into two federal trial court districts – Northern and Southern – by Act of Congress on September 28, 1850, 9 Stat. 521.[2] The boundary was at the 37th parallel.[3] The two districts were merged as the United States District Court for the District of California on July 27, 1866, by 14 Stat. 300.[2][3] On August 5, 1886, Congress re-created the Southern District by 24 Stat. 308,[3] while the northern half was renamed Northern District. The Eastern and Central Districts of California were created on March 18, 1966 from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75.[2]
United States attorney for the Central District of Californiaedit
The United States attorney for the Central District of California represents the United States government in civil and criminal cases before the court. As of September 19, 2022[update], the United States attorney is E. Martin Estrada.[4]
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 seatsedit
Seat 1
Seat reassigned from Southern District on September 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75
^"Central District of California | Our District". www.justice.gov. June 22, 2015.
^ abc"U.S. District Courts for the Districts of California: Legislative History".
^ abcWilloughby Rodman, History of the Bench and Bar of Southern California (1909), p. 46.
^"Martin Estrada Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becoming Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in Nation's Most Populous District". United States Department of Justice. September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
^ ab"Future Judicial Vacancies | United States Courts". www.uscourts.gov.
^"Former United States Attorneys". November 4, 2015.
^In 1966, the Central District of California was created from portions of the Southern District of California.
External linksedit
United States District Court, Central District of California
United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California