Role Judge | Name Earl Gilliam Preceded by New seat | |
Born August 17, 1931Clovis, New Mexico ( 1931-08-17 ) Alma mater San Diego State University (B.A.)University of California, Hastings College of Law (J.D.) Education University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Diego State University | ||
Succeeded by Napoleon A. Jones Jr. | ||
Earl Ben Gilliam (August 17, 1931 – January 28, 2001) was a United States federal judge.
Contents
Early life and education
Born in Clovis, New Mexico, Gilliam received a B.A. from San Diego State University in 1953 and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1957.
Career
Gilliam was a Deputy district attorney of San Diego County, CA from 1957 to 1961. He was in private practice in San Diego, CA from 1961 to 1963.
Judicial service
Gilliam was a judge on the San Diego Municipal Court from 1963 to 1975. He was a judge on the San Diego County Superior Court from 1975 to 1980.
Gilliam was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Gilliam was nominated by President Jimmy Carter on December 7, 1979, to a new seat created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 19, 1980, and received his commission on August 20, 1980. He assumed senior status on April 2, 1993. Gilliam served in that capacity until January 28, 2001, due to his death. Gilliam was the first African American U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of California and the first African American judge for the San Diego County Superior Court.