The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (in case citations, C.D. Cal.; commonly referred to as the CDCA or CACD) is the U.S. district court serving some 17 million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population. The Central District of California was created on September 18, 1966. The U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal cases before the court. Thomas P. O'Brien has held the role of U.S. Attorney since 2007. Cases from the Central 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). HistoryCalifornia 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. [, Federal Judicial Center.] The boundary line was at the 37th parallel of North Latitude. [Willoughby Rodman, History of the Bench and Bar of Southern California (1909), p. 46.] 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. [ Twenty years later, on August 5, 1886, Congress re-created the Southern District of California by 24 Stat. 308,][ but it was not until March 18, 1966, that the Eastern and Central Districts were created from portions of the Northern and Southern Districts by 80 Stat. 75.]DivisionsThe U.S. District Court for the Central District of California is divided into three divisions, with jurisdiction over seven counties: Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties.
The Eastern Division hears cases from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties at its Riverside courthouse.
The Southern Division covers Orange County from its Santa Ana courthouse.
The Western Division handles cases for Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Cases are heard in two courthouses in downtown Los Angeles, the older Spring Street Courthouse and the newer Edward Roybal courthouse. Since the mid-1990s, the district court administration has been fighting for funding to renovate or replace the aging Spring Street courthouse.
Recently, a new courthouse was slated to be built sometime in the future combining the Spring Street and most of the Roybal courthouses into one building. The U.S. Attorney's office will then occupy the Spring Street building.Current Judges- As of May 22, 2006, a vacancy has existed in the Central District of California due to the resignation of Judge Nora Margaret Manella. On July 31, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Nguyen to fill the seat. No action has yet been taken on her nomination.
- As of October 5, 2008, a second vacancy has existed in the District due to the resignation of Judge George P. Schiavelli. On August 7, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Dolly Gee, the managing partner of a Los Angeles law firm, to fill the vacancy. No action has yet been taken on her nomination.
- As of January 5, 2009, a third vacancy has existed in the District due to Judge Alicemarie Huber Stotler's decision to assume senior status. No replacement nomination is pending at this time.
- Judge Florence-Marie Cooper has announced that she will retire from the bench on March 15, 2010. This will leave the District with a fourth vacancy.
- Judge Stephen G. Larson has announced that he will retire from the bench on November 2, 2009. This will leave the District with a fifth vacancy.
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