Mónica Ramírez Almadani | |
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| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California | |
| Assumed office November 21, 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | John Kronstadt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mónica Marie Ramírez 1979 (age 45–46) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Stanford University (JD) |
Mónica Ramírez Almadani (born 1979)[1] is an American lawyer who is serving as aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California since 2023. She was the president and CEO ofPublic Counsel, a pro bono law firm, from 2021 to 2023.[2]
Mónica Ramírez Almadani was raised inHuntington Park, California, by parents who were immigrants fromMexico.[2][3] She graduated fromHarvard University in 2001 with aBachelor of Arts,magna cum laude. She received aJuris Doctor fromStanford Law School in 2004.[3]
From 2004 to 2005, Ramírez served as alaw clerk for JudgeWarren J. Ferguson of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 2005 to 2009, she worked as staff attorney at theACLU Immigrants' Rights Project inSan Francisco.
In 2009, Ramírez joined theUnited States Department of Justice, serving as counsel to then-Assistant SecretaryTom Perez. She later served as senior counsel and deputy chief of staff for Deputy Attorney GeneralJames M. Cole.
From 2012 to 2015, she served as anassistant United States attorney for theCentral District of California. From 2015 to 2017, Ramírez served as special assistant attorney general in theCalifornia Department of Justice and Senior Advisor to then-California Attorney GeneralKamala Harris.[4] From 2017 to 2019, she worked as special counsel atCovington & Burling in their San Francisco office. From 2019 to 2021, Ramírez was a visiting professor of law at theUniversity of California, Irvine School of Law[2] and co-director of its Immigrant Rights Clinic.[5]
In 2021, Ramírez became president of the nonprofitPublic Counsel, apro bono law firm, and left in 2023 to become a federal judge.[6]
On December 21, 2022, PresidentJoe Biden announced his intent to nominate Ramírez to serve as aUnited States district judge of theU.S. District Court for the Central District of California.[6] On January 23, 2023, her nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated her to the seat vacated by JudgeJohn Kronstadt, who assumedsenior status on April 1, 2022.[12] On February 15, 2023, a hearing on her nomination was held before theSenate Judiciary Committee.[13] On April 20, 2023, her nomination was reported out of committee by a 12–9 vote.[14] On November 8, 2023, theUnited States Senate invoked cloture on her nomination by a 52–46 vote.[15] On November 9, 2023, her nomination was confirmed by a 51–44 vote.[16] She received her judicial commission on November 21, 2023.[17]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Central District of California 2023–present | Incumbent |