Judge Edward J. Davila ’79 Named to Federal Judgeship

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Edward J. Davila was confirmed yesterday to the federal bench serving California's Northern District. In a sweeping 93-0 vote, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Davila. It is anticipated that he will take a spot in the San Jose federal Courthouse.

His confirmation marks the first time in 15 years that the Bay Area federal bench includes a Latino member.

Davila is President Barack Obama's third nominee to be confirmed as a federal judge in the Bay Area. His nomination had been put on hold last year when Congress adjourned without voting on a group of the Obama administration's judicial recommendations.

In a statement on the Senate floor, California Senator Barbara Boxer referred to Davila as an "outstanding judge who brings an impressive background of service" to the bench. She recommended him highly to the White House.

Since he was named in 2001 to the state bench by former Governor Gray Davis, Davila has served as a Superior Court judge. As a judge, he presided over criminal trials as well as family court proceedings, the latter in Sunnyvale, CA.

Prior to accepting the judgeship, Davila had been in private law practice in Santa Clara and worked as a Santa Clara County deputy defender. A Palo Alto native, he earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University in 1976 and a law degree from UC Hastings in 1979.

For more information, read an article on Judge Davila as it appeared today in the Mercury News.