WATCH: Padilla, Schiff Applaud Record-Breaking Confirmations for California-Based Federal Judgeships
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the confirmations of Judge Benjamin Cheeks and Judge Serena Murillo to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California, respectively.
These confirmations mark the 234th and 235th federal judges nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate, surpassing the number of federal judges confirmed during the Trump Administration.
“Judge Cheeks and Judge Murillo have deep roots in the Southern California legal community, and their extensive litigation and judicial experience will serve them well on the federal bench,” said Senator Padilla. “These record-breaking confirmations are a testament to Senate Democrats working tirelessly alongside President Biden these past four years to nominate and confirm highly qualified, diverse judges to serve California and the nation.”
“235 judges confirmed. An incredible milestone and an important moment for our state and our judiciary. Congratulations to Judge Murillo and Judge Cheeks on your confirmations — and thank you for your continued service to the public and dedication to the rule of law,” said Senator Schiff.
Senator Padilla has worked closely with the Biden Administration to recommend and support the nominations of highly qualified, outstanding judges to the federal courts, including 35 confirmations in California. Senator Padilla is committed to rebuilding a federal judiciary that better reflects the America it serves. Within weeks of being sworn into the Senate, one of Padilla’s first initiatives was to establish a Judicial Evaluation Commission, comprised of majority attorneys of color and women, to evaluate candidates for federal judicial vacancies in California. Earlier this year, Padilla highlighted the importance of federal judicial diversity in race, gender, legal experience, and professional background during an event hosted by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
Judge Benjamin Cheeks: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Judge Benjamin J. Cheeks has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California since July 2024, when he was unanimously selected by the federal district court judges of the Southern District. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Cheeks was a criminal defense lawyer in private practice at the Law Offices of Benjamin J. Cheeks, A.P.C. in San Diego from 2013 to 2024. From 2010 to 2013, Judge Cheeks served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office from 2003 to 2010. Judge Cheeks received his J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law in 2003 and his B.A. from the University of Miami, Florida in 2000.
Judge Serena Murillo: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Central District of California
Judge Serena Murillo has been a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2015. She also served by appointment of the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court as an Associate Justice pro tem on the California Court of Appeal from 2018 to 2019. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Murillo served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office from 1997 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she worked as an associate attorney at McNicholas & McNicholas in Los Angeles in 1997 and as a law clerk at Shernoff, Bidart, and Echeverria in Claremont, California in 1996. Judge Murillo received her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1996 and her B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 1993.