Irma Elsa Gonzalez

Judge Irma Elsa Gonzalez (born 1948 in Palo Alto, California) is a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.^[1] She was the first Mexican-American female federal judge.^[2] She was nominated by George H.W. Bush on April 9, 1992, to a seat vacated by J. Lawrence Irving.^[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination on August 11, 1992.^[1] She has served as the chief judge of the Southern District of California from 2005 until the present.^[1] Prior to her service as a District Court Judge, Chief Judge Gonzalez served as a United States Magistrate Judge from 1984 until 1991.^[1]

Education

• Stanford University, B.A., 1970^[1]
• University of Arizona College of Law, J.D., 1973^[1]

Professional career

• Law clerk, Hon. William C. Frey, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1973-1975^[1]
• Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Arizona, 1975-1979^[1]
• Trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Los Angeles, California, 1979^[1]
• Assistant U.S. attorney, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California, 1979–1981
• Private practice, San Diego, California, 1981-1984^[1]
• Judge, California Superior Court, San Diego County, 1991-1992^[1]

Sources