Irma Gonzalez (federal judge)

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Irma Gonzalez
Image of Irma Gonzalez

Nonpartisan

Prior offices
United States District Court for the Southern District of California

Education

Bachelor's

Stanford University, 1970

Law

University of Arizona College of Law, 1973

Personal
Birthplace
Palo Alto, Calif.

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Irma Elsa Gonzalez was a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She joined the court in 1992 after being nominated by President George H.W. Bush. Gonzalez served as the Chief Judge of the court from 2005 to 2012. She assumed senior status for the court on March 29, 2013.[1] Gonzalez retired from the court on October 25, 2013.[2]

Early life and education

Born in Palo Alto, California, Gonzalez graduated from Stanford University with her bachelor's degree in 1970 and from the University of Arizona College of Law with her J.D. degree in 1973.[1]

Professional career

Judicial nominations and appointments

Southern District of California

Gonzalez began her career as a federal magistrate judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. She served from 1984 to 1991.[1]


On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Pete Wilson, Gonzalez was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California by President George H.W. Bush on April 9, 1992, to a seat vacated by Lawrence Irving. Gonzalez was confirmed with unanimous consent of the Senate on August 11, 1992 and received commission on August 12, 1992.[3] On March 29, 2013, Judge Irma Gonzalez assumed senior status for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California after serving on the court for over 20 years.[4] She retired on October 25, 2013.

Noteworthy cases

Donations Cap for San Diego Politicians (2012)
See also: United States District Court for the Southern District of California (Thalheimer et al v. City of San Diego et al, 3:09-cv-02862-IEG-BGS)

U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez ruled that the city of San Diego cannot enforce a cap of more than a thousand dollars on the amount political parties donate to local election campaigns.[5]

"Political parties are unlike other individuals and entities because the candidates do expressly associate with them and vote on issues advocated/supported by them. In light of this, the court cannot say, for example, that a Republican politician is necessarily 'corrupt' - or that there is an appearance of corruption-just because that politician votes to pass issues supported by the Republican Party after he or she takes office. To the contrary, that is the exact purpose of our political party system," said Judge Gonzalez.[5]

Candidates are allowed to spend their own money on campaigning, but they are not to accept public or private donations more than a year before any election. Furthermore, Judge Gonzalez upheld a $500.00 cap on contributions from individuals, as well as provisions that prohibit corporations and labor unions from donating directly to candidates.[5]

The lawsuit on the San Diego campaign finance laws was brought to light in December of 2009 by former Republican city council candidate Phil Thalheimer, the Republican Party of San Diego, as well as the Lincoln Club of San Diego, which is a business political action committee. Certain provisions of the law, the lawsuit claimed, were intended to curb corruption, but instead violated their rights to free speech.[5]

Judge Gonzalez's ruling does not completely obscure San Diego's abject political history, but in citing the yellow cab scandal, in which the city of San Diego raised taxi rates in order to fund campaign contributions, Judge Gonzalez wrote "In this case, the record sufficiently demonstrates corruption in the San Diego municipal government."[5]

See also

External links


Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Judge Irma Gonzalez Biography at the Federal Judicial Center
  2. ↑ U-T San Diego, "Gonzalez retiring from federal bench," August 30, 2013
  3. ↑ The Library of Congress, Irma E. Gonzalez USDC, SDCA confirmation: PN1044-102
  4. ↑ United States Courts, "U.S. Courts Current Vacancies," accessed May 1, 2014
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Courthousenews.com, "Judge Axes Donation Cap to San Diego Politicians-January," 23, 2012
Political offices
Preceded by:
Lawrence Irving 		Southern District of California
1992–2013
Seat #10 		Succeeded by:
Cynthia A. Bashant



California courts

Federal courts:

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California

State courts:

California Supreme Court • California Courts of Appeal • California Superior Courts

State resources:

Courts in California • California judicial elections • Judicial selection in California

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