San Diego Federal Court

An Overview of the San Diego Federal Court

The San Diego Federal Court, officially known as the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, handles federal cases arising in San Diego and Imperial counties. This court sees all kinds of federal cases, from criminal prosecutions to civil lawsuits. Let’s take a closer look at this important judicial institution.

Court Organization and Judges

The San Diego federal court has four divisional offices located in downtown San Diego, El Centro, Vista, and Chula Vista. It’s part of the Ninth Circuit and has seven authorized district court judges as well as several magistrate judges. The current chief district judge is Dana Makoto Sabraw, who was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2003.
Some of the other district court judges include Cynthia Ann Bashant, an Obama appointee known for her expertise in patent law; Janis Lynn Sammartino, appointed by Bush in 2007 and known for her smarts and no-nonsense attitude in the courtroom; and Thomas Joseph Whelan, a well-respected Reagan appointee approaching his late 80s but still going strong on the bench.
The magistrate judges play a supporting role by handling preliminary criminal matters, early proceeding in civil cases, and some trials on misdemeanor cases and civil disputes. They give the district judges more time to focus on felony criminal cases and complex civil litigation.

Federal Laws, Jurisdiction and Cases

Since it’s a federal district court, the San Diego court applies only federal law in the cases it hears. This includes deciding cases under hot-button federal laws like immigration statutes, federal drug laws, federal firearms statutes, and white-collar federal fraud laws.
The court has jurisdiction over all federal cases arising in San Diego and Imperial counties. It sees a wide range of criminal and civil disputes every year, including drug smuggling and immigration crimes due to the proximity to Mexico. For example, in 2021 the court saw several high-profile prosecutions of Navy officers for public corruption charges related to their contacts with a Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed “Fat Leonard” – these cases made national headlines.
On the civil side, the San Diego federal court is known for its intellectual property and technology cases. With Qualcomm and other tech companies based in San Diego, big patent infringement lawsuits often get filed here. The court also handles civil rights cases against federal agencies and employees located in its district. For example, in 2018 a judge approved a settlement in a class action case brought by border crossers who alleged abusive practices by U.S. Customs officers at the ports of entry.

Going to Federal Court in San Diego

If you find yourself involved in a federal case in San Diego, whether as a party to a lawsuit, defendant in a criminal case, or witness, there are some basics you should know.
First, make sure to treat all court staff, officials, and judges with courtesy and respect when you’re in the courthouse. That includes things like not using your cell phone, dressing appropriately, and addressing the judge as “Your Honor.”
Second, understand that security is tight at all federal courthouses, so leave contraband at home and expect to go through a metal detector when entering. And prepare for lots of waiting around, since federal court dockets are crowded and hearings sometimes get pushed back.
Third, if you’re representing yourself without an attorney, know that federal court has complex rules and procedures. Be sure to research the specific requirements in your type of case so you don’t miss deadlines or make rookie mistakes. The court’s website has some guidance for pro se litigants that can help.
And finally, don’t try to talk your way past security, argue with the judge, or pull any funny business – the U.S. Marshals don’t mess around! Just mind your manners and participate with respect, whether you’re attending a high-profile criminal trial or suing over a barking dog dispute with your neighbor.

Notable San Diego Federal Court Cases

The San Diego federal court has seen some fascinating cases over the years. Here are just a few that stood out:
U.S. v. Hargrove – This 1920s Prohibition case involved rum-running and bribery charges against E.L. Hargrove, a deputy collector of customs in San Diego. His trial featured testimony from Sunny Jim Rolph, the governor of California. Hargrove was ultimately convicted of accepting bribes from smugglers bringing booze in from Mexico.
U.S. v. Kuch – In 2007, this case saw the conviction of Hans Kuch, a San Diego man who was caught with over 16,000 disturbing images of child pornography. His failed appeal raised important issues around mandatory minimum sentences in federal child porn cases.
U.S. v. Duncan – This 1980 case involved the notorious escape attempt by three inmates from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown San Diego. The inmates took hostages using a homemade knife and fake dynamite, but the FBI stormed the cell before their planned helicopter getaway.
Morrison v. Fred Sands School of Real Estate – Here, a San Diego real estate school was sued for gender discrimination in a 1989 case that established important standards under federal civil rights laws. The school had separate grading curves for men and women.
So in looking at just a small sample, we see that San Diego’s federal court has shaped history through explosive criminal trials, grappled with complex questions of justice, and protected civil rights across its over 100 year history. It’s sure to see many more high-profile cases in the decades to come.