Federal Courts Update – April 2025

For more federal courts content, please see the Quarterly Federal Courts Committee Newsletter.

We are looking for new members to join our Federal Courts Committee. If you are interested, please apply at https://calawyers.org/section/litigation/standing-committees/committee-on-federal-courts/ or email Committee Chair Tom Stout at tomstout@dwt.com for more information.

Southern District of California

Student Practice in the Southern District of California: On March 26, 2025, the Southern District issued General Order No. 644-E, which permits eligible law students acting under the supervision of a member of the bar of the Southern District to speak or appear on behalf of a client in criminal or civil matters, if the client has filed a written consent with the Court, and subject to the restrictions set forth in the General Order. A copy of General Order No. 644-E is available here.

Appointment of the Criminal Justice Act Committee: On March 26, 2025, the Southern District issued General Order No. 612-D, which designates the following judges to serve on the Criminal Justice Act Committee: District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro (Chair), District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo, District Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks, District Judge James E. Simmons, Jr., Senior District Judge John A. Houston, Magistrate Judge David D. Leshner, and Magistrate Judge Lupe Rodriguez, Jr. A copy of General Order No. 612-D is available here.

Central District of California

Interim U.S. Attorney: The Los Angeles Times reported on April 1, 2025 that Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed former Assistant US Attorney and current California Assemblymember Bill Essayli as interim US Attorney for the Central District of California. Essayli succeeds acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally.

Judicial Independence:  A DailyJournal.Com article dated April 1, 2025 reported on the recent annual State of the Judiciary speech of Chief Judge Dolly M. Gee before the Los Angeles County Bar. In that speech, Judge Gee discussed, in part, “a dangerous erosion of respect for judicial independence” based on recent events. For example, Judge Gee noted that “Chief Justice [John] Roberts recently found it necessary to issue a rare public statement rebuking calls for impeachment of judges based on disagreements with their beliefs.” Judge Gee further called on the Bar to “continue to speak out and urge your firms to speak out. … Silence is acquiescence, and we cannot allow these challenges to the judiciary and the rule of law to become an ordinary, normal part of our political discourse. … Our constitutional republic cannot stand without an independent judiciary, and so I hope that you will make your voices heard.” The April 1, 2025 article regarding Judge Gee’s speech may be accessed here.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael B. Kaufman Appointed: The United States District Court for the Central District of California announced the appointment of Michael B. Kaufman as a United States Magistrate Judge. Judge Kaufman, who was sworn in on February 20, 2025, will preside over matters in Los Angeles in the Court’s Western Division  and succeeds former Magistrate Judge Michael R. Wilner. Additional information may be found here.

Northern District of California

Call for Applications for the 2025 Northern District of California Criminal Justice Act Panels: The Appellate Panel, the San Francisco and Oakland Trial Panel, and the San Jose Trial Panel are currently accepting applications. The deadline to submit an application is April 21, 2025. (Notice 2)

Chief Magistrate Judge Donna M Ryu Retirement: Judge Ryu will retire from the Northern District bench on January 9, 2026. The application for the open magistrate judge position will be available from “approximately April 11 through May 11, 2025.” (Notice 3)

U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler Reappointment: Magistrate Judge Beeler’s current term of office is set to expire on January 3, 2026. Members of the bar and the public are invited to provide written comments on whether Magistrate Judge Beeler should be recommended for reappointment by the court. The deadline to submit comments closes on April 30, 2025. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to “magistrate_comments@cand.uscourts.gov,” or by U.S. mail to Mark B. Busby, Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102. (Notice 4)

Eastern District of California

Two United States Magistrate Judges positions will be open in 2026 for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division. The Notice with instructions to apply is here. The application packet must be received by no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025.