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Understanding the California US District Courts and Judges

Understanding the California US District Courts and Judges

The court system can be pretty confusing and intimidating for folks who don’t have a law degree, am I right? Well don’t worry, I’m here to break it all down for you in simple, easy to understand language. We’re gonna focus on the federal district courts in California so you can get a handle on how they work, what kinds of cases they hear, and who the judges are. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive in!

The Basics of Federal vs. State Courts

First things first, we gotta understand the difference between federal and state courts. The federal courts are part of the judicial branch of the US government, while state courts operate under each state’s own government. Federal courts only hear certain types of cases that involve questions of federal law or the US constitution. These include cases between states, cases involving federal crimes, bankruptcy cases, patent cases, and lawsuits against the federal government. State courts handle everything else – family law, contract disputes, traffic violations, you name it.There are 3 main levels of federal courts:

• District Courts – the trial courts where evidence is presented and witnesses testify. There are 94 district courts across the US.
• Circuit Courts of Appeals – reviews decisions from the district courts. There are 13 circuit courts.
• The Supreme Court – the highest court in the land, reviews decisions from the circuit courts. There is only one Supreme Court for the whole country.

Got all that? Federal district courts are where all cases start out before they can move up to the appeals courts or Supreme Court. There are 4 district courts in California – Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern. Let’s take a closer look at those now.

The California District Courts

The four federal district courts in California basically divide up the state into four regions – north, east, central and south. Here’s a quick overview:

Northern District of California

• Covers northern CA from Monterey up to the Oregon border.
• Main courthouse is in San Francisco.
• Handles around 8,000 cases per year.
• Current chief judge is Phyllis Hamilton, appointed by Bill Clinton in 2000.

Eastern District of California

• Covers northeast CA including Sacramento and Fresno.
• Main courthouse is in Sacramento.
• Handles over 5,000 cases per year.
• Current chief judge is Kimberly Mueller, appointed by Barack Obama in 2010.

Central District of California

• Covers mid and southern CA including LA and San Diego.
• Main courthouse is in Downtown LA.
• Handles over 20,000 cases per year, one of the busiest districts in the US.
• Current chief judge is Virginia Phillips, appointed by Bill Clinton in 1999.

Southern District of California

• Covers far southern CA along the border with Mexico.
• Main courthouse is in San Diego.
• Handles around 8,000 cases per year.
• Current chief judge is Dana Sabraw, appointed by George W. Bush in 2003.

As you can see, the Central District based in LA handles by far the most cases due to the huge population. The Eastern District has the lowest caseload.Now let’s look at the types of cases these courts handle.

Cases Heard in California District Courts

The district courts only hear cases that involve questions of federal law. Here are some of the most common types:

• Federal crimes – Robbery of a federally insured bank, smuggling drugs across state lines, tax evasion, and other offenses against federal law.
• Civil rights – Discrimination lawsuits against state or local government agencies under the Civil Rights Act.
• Patent & copyright – Lawsuits over infringement of patents, trademarks or copyrights.
• Admiralty – Legal disputes involving ships, boats and cargo traveling in interstate or international waters.
• Bankruptcy – People or companies filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• Environmental lawsuits – Violations of federal environmental laws like the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act.
• Federal tax lawsuits – Suits over federal income taxes, estate taxes or gift taxes.
• Postal Service lawsuits – Claims against the USPS for lost mail, damage to packages, etc.
• Immigration cases – Deportation proceedings and petitions for asylum.
• Federal prisoner petitions – Federal inmates appealing their convictions or sentences.

The district courts do not hear regular civil lawsuits between citizens of the same state, divorce and child custody matters, probate and inheritance issues, or state criminal cases. Those all go through the California state courts.

How District Court Trials Work

If you find yourself as a party in a federal civil or criminal trial, it’s good to understand how the process works. Here’s the quick rundown:Civil trials – For civil lawsuits between individuals or companies, there is often a period of information gathering called discovery, where each side can request documents and take depositions. Once discovery is complete, either side can request a summary judgment if the important facts are not in dispute. If the case remains unresolved, it will go to trial before a judge and usually a jury. The jury (or judge if there is no jury) will decide liability and damages based on the evidence. Appeals of district court decisions go to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.Criminal trials – For federal criminal cases, the trial generally works the same as in state courts. The case starts with the arraignment where charges are formally presented. Defendants can plead guilty or go to trial. At trial, a jury is selected and both sides present testimony and evidence. The jury decides guilt or innocence. If found guilty, the judge determines the sentence based on federal sentencing guidelines. Appeals of convictions or sentences go to the Ninth Circuit.I know, I know, it’s a lot to digest! The takeaway is that the district courts are where all the action happens. The judges and juries hear evidence and decide outcomes at the trial level.

Meet the Judges!

Now that you understand the role of the district courts, let’s look at who actually runs the show – the district court judges. There are currently 27 active district judges across the four districts in California. Here are some quick facts about them:

• All district judges are nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.
• They serve lifetime appointments until they retire, pass away or are removed from office. Mandatory retirement age is 65.
• Their salaries are around $200k per year. Not too shabby!
• Most judges have prior experience as prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, or civil litigators before taking the bench.

Some of the longest serving active judges include:

• Judge Dean Pregerson (Central District) – Appointed by Bill Clinton in 1996. Well known for his humor and for walking to work.
• Judge Morrison England (Eastern District) – Appointed by George W. Bush in 2002. Previously served as a California state court judge.
• Judge Roger Benitez (Southern District) – Appointed by George W. Bush in 2003. Recent controversial rulings on California gun control laws.

There are also dozens of magistrate judges who handle preliminary criminal matters and some civil trials. They are appointed by majority vote of the district judges to renewable 8-year terms.The chief judges in each district serve in an administrative role, making sure the courts run smoothly. They serve terms of 7 years.

In Conclusion…

Whew, that was a boatload of information about the federal district courts in California! Let’s recap:

• There are 4 district courts in CA that divide up the state.
• They only hear federal cases, not state cases.
• Thousands of civil and criminal trials run through these courts each year.
• District judges are nominated by the president and approved by the senate.
• Magistrate judges handle preliminary matters and some trials.
• The chief judges manage administrative functions.

I know I threw a lot at you, but hopefully this breakdown gives you a better understanding of how these courts operate and the kinds of cases they handle. The federal judicial system impacts so many areas of law and society, so it’s good for citizens to understand it. Let me know if you have any other questions!