John A. Kronstadt

John Arnold Kronstadt
Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 2011
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by Florence-Marie Cooper
Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court
In office
2002 – April 2011
Appointed by Gray Davis
Preceded by Juelann Cathey
Succeeded by Roberto Longoria[1]
Personal details
Born 1951 (age 60–61)
Washington, D.C.
Spouse(s) Helen Bendix
Alma mater Cornell University (A.B.)
Yale Law School (J.D.)

John Arnold Kronstadt (born 1951) is a district judge on the United States District Court for the Central District of California. On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm Kronstadt. He received his judicial commission on April 14, 2011.

Contents

Early life and education

Kronstadt was born in 1951 in Washington, D.C.[2] He graduated from Cornell University in 1973 with an A.B.[3] At Cornell, he was a member of the Quill and Dagger society. He earned his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1976.[3] After completing law school, Kronstadt served as a law clerk for Judge William P. Gray of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.[4]

Judicial service

In October 2002, California Governor Gray Davis appointed Kronstadt to the Los Angeles County Superior Court.[5] He replaced Judge Juelann Cathey,[5] who had retired earlier that year following major heart surgery.[6]

While a Superior Court judge, Kronstadt presided over the case to determine rightful ownership of the Bahia Emerald, an 840-pound gemstone that has previously been valued at $372 million.[7]

On November 17, 2010, President Barack Obama nominated Kronstadt to a judgeship on the United States District Court for the Central District of California[3] to fill the vacancy created by the death of Florence-Marie Cooper.[4] On April 12, 2011, the Senate voted 96-0 to confirm his nomination.[8] Kronstadt received his judicial commission two days later.

Personal

Kronstadt is married to Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Helen Bendix.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Governor Appoints Six to Los Angeles Superior Court Judgeships". Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. December 27, 2011. http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17358. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  2. ^ Senate Judiciary Committee Questionnaire: John Arnold Kronstadt, (November 15, 2010).
  3. ^ a b c President Obama Nominates Six to the United States District Court, 11/17/10, whitehouse.gov (November 17, 2010).
  4. ^ a b c Ofgang, Kenneth (November 19, 2010). "Obama Nominates Kronstadt to U.S. District Court". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. http://www.metnews.com/articles/2010/kron111910.htm. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b Laird, Lorelei (October 17, 2002). "Davis Appoints Two to Los Angeles Superior Court Bench". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. http://www.metnews.com/articles/supe101702.htm. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  6. ^ MetNews Staff Writer (July 1, 2002). "Judge Juelann Cathey Granted Disability Retirement". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. http://www.metnews.com/articles/cath070102.htm. Retrieved December 30, 2011. 
  7. ^ Victoria Kim, Trial begins in tussle over giant emerald, Los Angeles Times (September 25, 2010).
  8. ^ http://judiciary.senate.gov/nominations/112thCongress.cfm