Irma Elsa Gonzalez

Irma Elsa Gonzalez
Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office March 29, 2013 – October 25, 2013
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office 2005–2012
Preceded by	Marilyn L. Huff
Succeeded by	Barry Ted Moskowitz
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office August 12, 1992 – March 29, 2013
Appointed by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	J. Lawrence Irving
Succeeded by	Cynthia Ann Bashant
Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
In office 1984–1991
Personal details
Born	(1948-03-29) March 29, 1948 Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Stanford University James E. Rogers College of Law (formerly University of Arizona College of Law)

Irma Elsa Gonzalez (born March 29, 1948 in Palo Alto, California) is a former United States federal judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She was the first Mexican-American female federal judge. She was nominated by George H.W. Bush on April 9, 1992, to a seat vacated by J. Lawrence Irving. The Senate confirmed her nomination on August 11, 1992. She served as the chief judge of the Southern District of California from 2005 to 2012. She took senior status on March 29, 2013 and retired on October 25, 2013. Prior to her service as a District Court Judge, Gonzalez served as a United States Magistrate Judge from 1984 until 1991.

She is married to former federal prosecutor and trial attorney Robert S. Brewer.

Education

• Stanford University, B.A., 1970
• University of Arizona College of Law, J.D., 1973

Professional career

• Law clerk, Hon. William C. Frey, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1973-1975
• Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Arizona, 1975-1979
• Trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Los Angeles, California, 1979
• Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, 1979–1981
• Private practice, San Diego, California, 1981-1984
• Judge, California Superior Court, San Diego County, 1991-1992

Sources

• Irma Elsa Gonzalez at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.