The Senate yesterday confirmed Paul J. Watford to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Watford is a 1994 graduate of U.C.L.A. School of Law. Prior to taking the bench, he was a partner with Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, where his practice focused mainly on appellate litigation. From 1997 to 2000, Watford was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Central District of California. He clerked for Hon. Alex Kozinski of the 9th Circuit, and for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Jacqueline H. Nguyen to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Nguyen was a District Judge for the Central District of California since 2009 and sat on the Superior Court of California from 2002 to 2009. Prior to taking the bench, Nguyen was with the U.S. Attorneys office for 7 years and in private practice from 1991 to 1994.