Consuelo Callahan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit | |
| Assumed office May 28, 2003 | |
| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Ferdinand Fernandez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Consuelo María Callahan (1950-06-09)June 9, 1950 (age 75) Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Randy Haight |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) University of the Pacific (JD) University of Virginia (LLM) |
Consuelo María Callahan (born June 9, 1950) is aUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Consuelo María Callahan was born June 9, 1950, inPalo Alto,California. She was raised inFremont, California and attended public schools in Fremont and inLos Altos, California. In 1972, she graduated fromStanford University withBachelor of Arts degree,cum laude, in English. She graduated fromMcGeorge School of Law at theUniversity of the Pacific, with aJuris Doctor in 1975. In 2004, she received aMaster of Laws from theUniversity of Virginia School of Law. She is married to Randy Haight.[1]
A member of theRepublican Party,[2] Callahan began her law career as the Deputy City Attorney forStockton, California, and then became Deputy District Attorney inSan Joaquin County, California. She focused her practice on child abuse and sexual assault cases. In 1986, she became a commissioner of the Stockton Municipal Court. In 1992, she became the first Hispanic woman to be appointed to theSan Joaquin CountySuperior Court. In 1996,GovernorPete Wilson appointed her to serve on the Third DistrictCalifornia Court of Appeal inSacramento.
On February 12, 2003, Callahan was nominated by PresidentGeorge W. Bush to serve on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her Senate confirmation hearing was on May 7, 2003. On May 22, 2003, she was confirmed by a 99–0 vote.[3] She received her judicial commission on May 28, 2003.[4]
On September 20, 2005,The New York Times named Callahan as a George W. Bush candidate for associate justice of theUnited States Supreme Court, to replace Associate JusticeSandra Day O'Connor.[5] She was supported by someDemocrats and theCongressional Hispanic Caucus as being more moderate than many of Bush's other appointees. On October 9, 2005Chicago Sun-Times columnistRobert Novak reported Callahan was one of two finalists for the O'Connor seat, the other beingWhite House CounselHarriet Miers, whom Bush nominated.[6] On October 27, 2005, Miers withdrew her name from consideration and again, Callahan was mentioned as a possible nominee. Bush ultimately nominatedSamuel Alito to O'Connor's seat.
On November 13, 2023, Callahan voted against temporarily blocking Idaho's abortion ban despite to its lack of exceptions for medical emergencies. A 7-4 majority voted to temporarily block the ban.[7] On January 5, 2024, the Supreme Court said it would take up the case and dissolved the 9th circuit's temporary injunction.[8]
On July 14, 2014, Callahan was presented the Ninth Circuit Professionalism Award from theAmerican Inns of Court. The award presentation occurred at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference inMonterey, California, and was presented by DeanDeanell Reece Tacha of thePepperdine University School of Law; Dean Tacha was a retired judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and current President of theAmerican Inns of Court Foundation.[9]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 2003–present | Incumbent |