Earl Ben Gilliam

Earl Ben Gilliam
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office August 20, 1980 – April 2, 1993
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Napoleon A. Jones Jr.
Judge of the San Diego Superior Court
In office 1975–1980
Judge of the San Diego Municipal Court
In office 1963–1975
Personal details
Born	(1931-08-17)August 17, 1931 Clovis, New Mexico
Died	January 28, 2001(2001-01-28) (aged 69)
Alma mater	San Diego State University (B.A.) University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D.)

Earl Ben Gilliam (August 17, 1931 – January 28, 2001) was a United States federal judge.

Early life and education

Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Gilliam received a B.A. from San Diego State University in 1953 and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1957.

Career

Gilliam was a Deputy district attorney of San Diego County, CA from 1957 to 1961. He was in private practice in San Diego, CA from 1961 to 1963.

Judicial service

Gilliam was a judge on the San Diego Municipal Court from 1963 to 1975. He was a judge on the San Diego County Superior Court from 1975 to 1980.

Gilliam was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Gilliam was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on December 7, 1979, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 19, 1980, and received his commission on August 20, 1980. He assumed senior status on April 2, 1993. Gilliam served in that capacity until January 28, 2001, due to his death. Gilliam was the first African American U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of California and the first African American judge for the San Diego County Superior Court.

Sources

• Earl Ben Gilliam at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.