Name Richard Paez Preceded by Cecil Poole Role Judge | Succeeded by S. James Otero Preceded by Seat established | |
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Alma mater Brigham Young UniversityUC Berkeley School of Law | ||
Richard paez visalia
Richard Anthony Paez (born May 5, 1947) is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Contents
- Richard paez visalia
- Richard paez consolidated is what it is
- Early life and education
- Career
- Federal judicial service
- Notable cases
- Personal
- References
Richard paez consolidated is what it is
Early life and education
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Paez received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University in 1969. He attended the UC Berkeley School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1972.
Career
Paez began his career as a staff attorney for California Rural Legal Assistance, from 1972 to 1974, then as a staff attorney for the Western Center on Law and Poverty, from 1974 to 1976. He joined the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles in 1976 as senior counsel, was director of litigation from 1978 to 1979 and deputy director for litigation, from 1979 to 1980, then was acting executive director and director of litigation, from 1980 to 1981. Paez then became a Judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court from 1981 to 1994.
Federal judicial service
Following his March 9, 1994, nomination by President Bill Clinton, confirmation by the United States Senate on June 15, 1994, and reception of commission on June 16, 1994, Paez became the second Mexican American to sit on the bench of the United States District Court for the Central District of California, a district that covers Los Angeles.
Paez was confirmed by Senate on March 9, 2000, by a 59-39 vote, more than four years after President Clinton first nominated him to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Paez waited 1,506 days to be confirmed, which at that time was the longest wait for a vote by any judicial nominee in U.S. history. The campaign against Paez's confirmation was led by Senators Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire and Jeff Sessions of Alabama over assertions that Paez and other 9th Circuit judges were too liberal. Then Vice President Al Gore interrupted his campaign to fly back to Washington to cast his vote in support of Paez.
Notable cases
In a 2009 decision, he held that a San Francisco resolution urging the Vatican to withdraw a directive against same-sex adoptions does not violate the Establishment Clause.
In a 2011 decision, he issued the majority opinion upholding a lower court's blocking of the most controversial parts of the Arizona SB 1070 anti-illegal immigration law from taking effect.
Personal
He is married to Diane Erickson, with a daughter, Lisa, and son, David.