United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Established
September 28, 1850
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California (in case citations, S.D. Cal.) is a federal court in 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).
The District was created on September 28, 1850, following California statehood on September 9, 1850. The state was divided into a Northern and Southern district. The Judicial Circuits Act of 1866 abolished the Northern and Southern districts, re-organizing California as a single circuit district. On August 5, 1886 the Southern district was re-established, following the division of the state into Northern and Southern districts. The district was further divided on March 18, 1966 with the creation of the Central district.[1]
The United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is Laura Duffy, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 28, 2010.
Organization of the court
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of four federal judicial districts in California.[2] Court for the District is held at El Centro and the Edward J. Schwartz U.S. Courthouse and U.S. Courthouse Annex in San Diego. The district comprises Imperial and San Diego counties.
^Initially appointed to the Northern District of California in 1851 by Millard Fillmore; Act of August 31, 1852 made the judge of the Northern District be judge of the Southern District as well.
^Recess appointment; formally nominated on March 3, 1952, confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10, 1952, and received commission on June 11, 1952.