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Sandy Nunes Leal
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2018 - Present
2027
7
Sandy Nunes Leal is a judge on the Superior Court of Orange County in California. Governor Jerry Brown (D) appointed Leal in 2018 to succeed Judge Timothy J. Stafford.[1]
On October 17, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Leal to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California.[2] Leal's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021. Click here for more information on Leal's federal judicial nomination.
The United States District Court for the Central District of California is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the Central District of California
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On October 17, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Leal to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California.[2] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
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| Nominee Information |
| Name: Sandy Nunes Leal |
| Court: United States District Court for the Central District of California |
| Progress |
| Returned 444 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: October 17, 2019
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| ABA Rating: Substantial majority qualified / Minority well qualified
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| Questionnaire: |
 Hearing:
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| QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported:
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| Confirmed:
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| Returned: January 3, 2021
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Nomination
On August 28, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Leal to a seat on the United States District Court for the Central District of California.[3] The president officially nominated Leal on October 17, 2019. Leal's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2020.[2] The president renominated Leal on February 13.[4] Leal's nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021.[5]
Leal was nominated to replace Judge Christina Snyder, who assumed senior status on November 23, 2016.[2]
The American Bar Association rated Leal qualified by a substantial majority and well qualified by the minority for the position.[6] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Superior Court of Orange County, California (2018-present)
Leal became a judge on the Superior Court of Orange County in California in 2018. Governor Jerry Brown (D) appointed Leal to succeed Judge Timothy J. Stafford.[1]
Education
Leal earned her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.[3]
Professional career
- 2018-present: Judge, Superior Court of Orange County, California
- 2004-2018: United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California
- 2015-2018: Deputy chief
- 2004-2015: Assistant U.S. attorney[1]
Leal also previously worked as an assistant district counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service.[1]
About the court
The United States District Court for the Central District of California is one of 94 United States district courts. The court serves about seventeen million people in southern and central California, making it the largest federal judicial district by population. The district operates out of courthouses in Santa Ana, Riverside and two locations in Los Angeles. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, based in downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse. Initial appeals are heard in Pasadena at the Richard Chambers Courthouse.
The Central District of California has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
There are three court divisions, each covering the following counties:
The Eastern Division, covering Riverside and San Bernardino counties.[7]
The Southern Division, covering Orange County.[7]
The Western Division, covering Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties.[7]
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Courthouse News Service, "Six Tapped for California Superior Court Benches," December 18, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Congress.gov, "PN1239 — Sandy Nunes Leal — The Judiciary," accessed October 21, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees and United States Marshal Nominee," August 28, 2019
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Eleven Nominations Sent to the Senate," February 13, 2020
- ↑ Under Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, pending nominations are returned to the president if the Senate adjourns sine die or recesses for more than 30 days.
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary: Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees: 116th Congress," accessed September 2, 2020
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 United States District Court for the Central District of California, Jurisdiction
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
