United States District Court for the Southern District of California
About This Court
The Southern District of California is a federal trial court within the Ninth Circuit, covering San Diego and Imperial counties at the southwestern corner of the United States. The district shares an international border with Mexico, which significantly shapes its docket and gives it a distinct character among federal courts.
The court handles a high volume of immigration-related criminal cases, border and port-of-entry matters, and cases involving international drug trafficking. Its location adjacent to the busiest land border crossing in the world contributes to one of the heaviest criminal caseloads per judge in the federal system.
Civil matters before the court include cases involving federal agencies, intellectual property disputes, civil rights claims, and complex commercial litigation. The district maintains courthouses in San Diego and El Centro to serve its geographic area.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Divisions
San Diego Division (San Diego), El Centro Division (El Centro)
Caseload
The Southern District of California consistently ranks among the busiest federal courts in the nation for criminal filings, driven primarily by immigration prosecutions and drug smuggling cases arising from border enforcement activities. The volume of such cases per authorized judgeship is among the highest in the federal system.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Southern District of California by applying through the clerk's office, which requires active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California or admission to practice before the highest court of any U.S. state or territory. Local rules set forth additional requirements, including familiarity with the court's local civil and criminal rules.
Clerk's Office
333 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 557-5600
Active Judges 24
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Anello | George W. Bush | 2008 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Cynthia Bashant | Barack Obama | 2014 | University of California Hastings College of the Law (now UC College of the Law, San Francisco) |
| Anthony Battaglia | Barack Obama | 2011 | California Western School of Law |
| Cathy Bencivengo | Barack Obama | 2012 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Roger Benitez | George W. Bush | 2004 | Western State University College of Law (now Thomas Jefferson School of Law) |
| Larry Burns | George W. Bush | 2003 | University of San Diego School of Law |
| Benjamin Cheeks | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | American University, Washington College of Law |
| Gonzalo Curiel | Barack Obama | 2012 | Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington (now Maurer School of Law) |
| William Hayes | George W. Bush | 2003 | Syracuse University College of Law |
| John Houston | George W. Bush | 2003 | University of Miami School of Law |
| Marilyn Huff | George H.W. Bush | 1991 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Robert Huie | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | Yale Law School |
| Linda Lopez | Joseph R. Biden | 2021 | University of Miami School of Law |
| M. Lorenz | William J. Clinton | 1999 | California Western School of Law |
| Jeffrey Miller | William J. Clinton | 1997 | University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law |
| Ruth Montenegro | Joseph R. Biden | 2022 | University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law |
| Barry Moskowitz | William J. Clinton | 1995 | Rutgers School of Law -- Newark |
| Jinsook Ohta | Joseph R. Biden | 2021 | New York University School of Law |
| Todd Robinson | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Georgetown University Law Center |
| Dana Sabraw | George W. Bush | 2003 | University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law |
| Janis Sammartino | George W. Bush | 2007 | Notre Dame Law School |
| Andrew Schopler | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | Harvard Law School |
| James Simmons | Joseph R. Biden | 2023 | Golden Gate University School of Law |
| Thomas Whelan | William J. Clinton | 1998 | San Diego School of Law (now University of San Diego School of Law) |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.