Federal Courts District Update – September 2024

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter. This quarter’s newsletter includes an interview with United States Magistrate Judge Michelle M. Pettit

We are looking for six new members to join our Federal Courts Committee. If you are interested, please apply here or email Committee Chair Tom Stout for more information.

Southern District of California

2024 Hon. David H. Bartick Award: The Southern District is pleased to announce the selection of Michael J. Dowd as the 2024 recipient of the Hon. David H. Bartick Award for Civility and Professionalism. (Press Release.)

State of the Southern District Luncheon: The 2024 State of the District and Bartick Award Luncheon will take place on Thursday, September 19th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees will receive updates regarding the operation of the court from Chief Judge Dana M. Sabraw, Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford, Bankruptcy Judge J. Barrett Marum, and Ninth Circuit Judge John B. Owens. (Buy tickets.)

Central District of California

Judicial Appointment: Magistrate Judge John D. Early has been recommended for re-appointment to an additional eight year term as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. (Notice.) Attorneys are invited to provide public comment here:  https://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/contact. Comments must be received by no later than August 16, 2024.

Northern District of California

Judicial Appointment: The Northern District of California announced the re-appointment of United States Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen.

Eastern District of California

Eastern District Conference: The Eastern District conference will take place in Yosemite October 25-27, 2024. (Notice.)

Judicial Retirement: Senior District Judge Morrison C. England will retire in October, after serving on the Eastern District bench since 2002. Judge England served as the Chief Judge of the district from 2012 to 2016 and assumed senior status in 2019. Before joining the federal bench, Judge England was a judge in Sacramento County for six years, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps for 14 years, and an attorney in private practice for 13 years.

Judicial Retirement: Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes retired on July 31, after serving the Eastern District for eight years. Before becoming a Magistrate Judge, Ms. Barnes worked as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of California, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of the Federal Defender, private practice, and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office.

Pro Se Help Day: The Court will hold a Pro Se Help Day on October 4, at the Kennedy Learning Center. McGeorge and UC Davis law students and professors and local practitioners will hold 30-minute consultations throughout the day.

Judicial Retirement: Magistrate Judge Sean Riordan was appointed on August 1, chosen to fill the position created by the retirement of Judge Barnes. Judge Riordan worked for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for more than twelve years and as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Eastern District of California, and clerked in the Central District of California.