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Shireen Matthews

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Shireen Matthews
Image of Shireen Matthews

Education

Bachelor's

Georgetown University, 2000

Law

Duke University School of Law, 2004

Personal
Birthplace
Arcadia, Calif.

Rebecca Shireen Matthews is a partner at Jones Day in San Diego, California.

On October 17, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Matthews to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[1] Matthews' 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 Matthews' federal judicial nomination.

The United States District Court for the Southern 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 Southern District of California

See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump

On October 17, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Matthews to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[1] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Shireen Matthews
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Progress
Returned 444 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: October 17, 2019
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously well qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: June 17, 2020
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: July 23, 2020 
DefeatedAConfirmed:
DefeatedAReturned: January 3, 2021

Nomination

On August 28, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Matthews to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.[2] The president officially nominated Matthews on October 17, 2019. Matthews' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2020.[1] The president renominated Matthews on February 13.[3] Matthews' nomination was returned to the president at the sine die adjournment of the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2021.[1][4]

Matthews was nominated to replace Judge Barry Moskowitz, who assumed senior status on January 23, 2019.[1]

The American Bar Association unanimously rated Matthews well qualified for the position.[5] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.

Early life and education

Matthews was born in 1977 in Arcadia, California. She earned her B.A. in political science, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University in 2000. She obtained her J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law in 2004.[6][7]

Professional career

Awards and associations

Awards

  • 2013: Young Federal Lawyer Award, Federal Bar Association[6]

Associations

  • American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project
  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Enright Inn of Court, San Diego chapter
  • Federal Bar Association, San Diego chapter
  • Lawyers Club
  • Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
  • South Asian Bar Association, San Diego chapter
  • San Diego County Bar Association
  • Wallace Inn of Court, San Diego chapter[7]

About the court

Southern District of California
Ninth Circuit
CA-SD.gif
Judgeships
Posts: 13
Judges: 12
Vacancies: 1
Judges
Chief: Dana Sabraw
Active judges: Cynthia A. Bashant, Cathy Bencivengo, Benjamin Cheeks, Robert Huie, Linda Lopez, Ruth Bermudez Montenegro, Jinsook Ohta, Todd Robinson, Dana Sabraw, Janis Sammartino, Andrew G. Schopler, James Simmons

Senior judges:
Michael Anello, Anthony J. Battaglia, Roger Benitez, Gonzalo P. Curiel, William Hayes, John Houston, Marilyn Huff, James Lorenz, Jeffrey Miller, Barry Moskowitz, Thomas Whelan


The United States District Court for the Southern District of California is one of 94 United States district courts. The district operates out of three courthouses in San Diego and one in El Centro. 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.

The Southern 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.

The geographic jurisdiction of the Southern District of California consists of the Imperial and San Diego counties in the southern part of the state of California.

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

External links

Footnotes